Decreasing canceled surgeries is critical for maintaining efficiency in healthcare facilities, reducing operational costs, and improving patient satisfaction. Cancellations due to last-minute changes can stem from various factors, but with proactive measures, they can be minimized. Here are actionable steps that healthcare providers can take to decrease canceled surgeries and ensure a smoother surgical workflow.
Enhance Pre-Operative Screening
A common reason for last-minute cancellations is patients arriving unfit for surgery due to unresolved medical issues like high blood pressure or infections. A robust pre-op screening process ensures that these issues are detected early. Patients should be evaluated for medical clearance well in advance, and tests such as blood work and cardiac assessments should be up to date.
By conducting thorough pre-op assessments, including reviewing medical histories and confirming readiness days before surgery, surgical teams can significantly reduce cancellations caused by unforeseen health complications. Regularly updating these assessments also helps ensure patients are fit for their scheduled procedures.
Improve Patient Communication and Preparation
Miscommunication or lack of patient understanding can lead to issues such as patients failing to follow pre-surgical instructions, arriving late, or not adhering to fasting requirements. This can be avoided through clear and consistent communication. Automated text message or email reminders can help patients stay on track with their pre-op preparations.
Healthcare providers should regularly remind patients about the necessary steps before surgery, such as when to stop eating, medications to avoid, and the need for arranging transportation post-op. Implementing a clear pre-op checklist and regular communication will help decrease last-minute cancellations.
For more detailed guidance, visit the Patient Readiness Guide on SurgiStream’s blog.
Utilize Surgical Scheduling Software
Last-minute cancellations often occur due to logistical miscommunication between surgical teams, vendors, or facilities. By integrating a surgical scheduling software like SurgiStream, which works in conjunction with your EHR system, you can streamline the coordination of equipment, staff, and patient readiness. Surgical scheduling software ensures that vendors are updated about surgery schedules in real-time, ensuring that tools and resources are available when needed, minimizing disruptions.
Surgical scheduling tools like SurgiStream also provide real-time visibility, helping hospitals prevent miscommunication, equipment shortages, and overbooking, which are leading causes of last-minute cancellations.
Maintain a Standby Patient List
To ensure valuable OR time is not wasted, maintain a standby list of patients who can undergo surgery on short notice. This is especially helpful if a cancellation is inevitable but you still have available OR time. These standby patients can fill in canceled slots and ensure the operating room remains productive.
This strategy not only decreases financial loss but also optimizes surgical schedules, ensuring more patients receive timely care.
Ensure Proper Vendor Coordination
Cancellations can also arise from equipment or supply issues. Surgical scheduling software ensures that vendors receive real-time updates when surgeries are rescheduled or canceled. Regular communication with vendors is crucial for ensuring necessary tools, implants, or surgical kits are on hand before the surgery begins.
Automating this communication reduces the likelihood of delays caused by equipment shortages or miscommunication with vendors, ensuring a smooth surgical workflow.
Track and Monitor Cancellations
Implementing a system that tracks the causes of surgical cancellations can help identify patterns and address recurring issues. Whether it’s patient non-compliance, logistical issues, or staffing shortages, tracking cancellation data allows healthcare facilities to refine their processes. Regularly reviewing this data helps healthcare providers anticipate problems and create solutions to avoid repeat cancellations.
Want to streamline your surgical scheduling and reduce cancellations in your practice? Learn how SurgiStreamintegrates with your existing EHR systems to manage vendor coordination and enhance patient readiness. Book a demo today!
Leave a Reply