Reducing neurosurgical theatre start time delays by seventy minutes through application of the ‘Golden Patient’ initiative

Abstract

Background

This project’s focus was on improving neurosurgical theatre efficiency through the application of Javed et al's Golden Patient initiative to the emergency theatre setting. This initiative has not previously been used in neurosurgery, so we have had to consider how to adapt it. Phase I’s primary objective was to quantify theatre start time delays. Phase II assessed whether introducing the initiative reduced the delays.

Methodology

We performed an observational retrospective service evaluation project. Data was collected on weekday theatre start times over 12-week periods pre- and post-initiative. We quantified the delay in theatre start times and recorded the reasons for delays. Following the initiative's introduction, we repeated the evaluation process. Mean and median theatre start times were compared. An ANOVA test was used to confirm statistical significance.

Results

Data was collected on 49 days and on 48 days over 12-week periods in both Phase I and II respectively. Phase I of this project identified that there was on average an 86.7 minute delay in starting the theatre each day. The theatre start time was delayed in 91.7% of cases. A 72.3 minute reduction in the theatre start time delay was noted following the initiative’s introduction (p < .0005), with an improvement in the average emergency theatre start time from 09:56 to 08:44 (08:30 is the recognised theatre start time). We have identified hospital-wide and doctor-related contributing factors which require further attention, most notably, relating to issues around transferring patients from the ward to theatre.

Conclusions

We have identified a statistically significant improvement in reducing theatre start time delays following the introduction of the initiative. This relatively simple intervention improved communication amongst the multidisciplinary team and led to a notable improvement in the service provided to patients by reducing start time delays. Through tackling identified areas, we hope to further reduce theatre start time delays leading not only to financial savings but also to further improvements in the quality of care provided to our neurosurgical patients.

Keywords:

• Golden patient
• theatre time utilization
• theatre start time delays
• emergency theatre
• theatre efficiency

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).