We've achieved an average turnover time of less than four minutes in our one-OR ophthalmic surgery center by using this approach:
- Assign two teams, each composed of one RN and one scrub tech, to work on alternating cases.
- While team No. 1 is in the OR, team No. 2's scrub tech sets up the instruments, gowns and gloves in a sterile prep area or treatment room.
- Upon completion of the case, RN No. 1 takes the patient to recovery while scrub tech No. 1 takes instruments to be cleaned and sterilized.
- As RN No. 2 wheels the next patient into the OR, scrub tech No. 2 enters the OR from the sterile area.
