At RUSH University Medical Center, the operating room (OR) is a critical component where surgical procedures are conducted to diagnose, treat and manage various medical conditions. The OR is a dynamic environment that requires precision, teamwork and state-of-the-art equipment for successful patient outcomes. Surgical practices and technology have improved significantly over the years, resulting in increased efficiency and more procedures completed within a given timeframe.
In March 2023, 2,118 surgical procedures were performed in the medical center, marking a significant increase compared to the same time frame in the previous year. Several notable factors contributed to achieving this record milestone. Efficiency improvements include streamlining pre-operative processes, optimizing surgical block scheduling, improving patient scheduling, reducing surgery turnaround times, and enhancing communication among surgical teams.
In 2022, Rose Andron, OR unit director, identified an opportunity to increase the scheduling team’s capabilities. She reviewed the gaps that prevented the team from fully optimizing the ORs’ technological capabilities and found what clinical expertise needed to be added to the current team. As a result, the scheduling team was restructured to include registered nurses from the OR. This restructuring provided clinical insight into scheduling cases and allowed for key decision-making capabilities from a capable clinician.
The record number of surgical procedures performed in the operating room in March 2023 is a testament to health care professionals’ dedication, skill, and collaborative efforts, as well as the integration of advanced technology and optimized processes. This achievement reflects a commitment to providing high-quality patient care while efficiently managing surgical resources.
As we continue to grow, the health care facility will continue to build upon these achievements, further enhancing efficiency, expanding the scope of services and staying at the forefront of surgical innovations to improve patient outcomes and maintain its reputation as a leader in surgical excellence. In addition, with a focus on continuous training, process optimization, technology integration, and capacity planning, RUSH will continue to provide outstanding surgical care to its patients and set new records for surgical procedures in the future.