• H Krasner, N R Connelly, J Flack, and A Weintraub.
• Department of Anesthesiology, Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, MA 01199, USA.
• J. Cardiothorac. Vasc. Anesth. 1999 Dec 1;13(6):661-5.

ObjectiveTo alter the approach to cardiac operating room services in an attempt to remain competitive in a cost-driven market.DesignStudy of processes and strategies for tracking and decreasing the times required for the multiple components of the operating room period.SettingCardiac operating rooms in a tertiary care, university-affiliated hospital.ParticipantsAll patients undergoing primary coronary artery bypass grafting during December 1996 (baseline) and the following year (1997).InterventionsAfter participation in cost-containment meetings, site visits, and development of a working group, data collection was begun detailing the times of the various components of the operating room period. Changes of process were made to reduce operating room times. Most of these changes involved multitasking care: multiple people performing various tasks at the same time. All measured operating room intervals were decreased. There was no difference in morbidity and mortality over this time period.ConclusionDevelopment of a working group, with support from the hospital administration, can significantly decrease the time of tasks in a cardiac surgery operating room without adversely affecting morbidity and mortality.

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