As in most surgical facilities, avoiding wasted OR time is one of our goals. To target this problem, we developed a comprehensive plan that includes this "interactive" tool: We draw a barometer on a dry-erase board to show daily OR start times and the percentage of on-time starts for the day. The charge nurse updates the barometer throughout the day and records this information at the surgical control desk. Our staff has become more engaged in the importance of being on time because they can see the progress toward the goal, and, thanks in part to this visual aid, we have improved our on-time starts by more than 70 percent.

Michael D. Williams, MBA
Administrator
Charleston Area Medical Center, General Hospital
writeMail("mike.williams@camc.org")