Influence of the Operating Room Schedule on Tardiness from Scheduled Start Times

Abstract

Factors associated with the largest numbers of cases had the biggest influence on tardiness. Greater understanding of these factors aided in the development of several mathematical interventions to reduce tardiness in the two surgical suites. These interventions and their applicability for reducing tardiness are described in a companion article. At two surgical suites, tardiness from scheduled start times did not depend on average case duration or prolonged turnovers. Tardiness did depend on the total duration of preceding cases, expected under-utilized or over-utilized time at the end of the day, and case duration bias.