AORN journal
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OPERATING ROOM MANAGERS are hampered in their efforts to optimize OR efficiency by surgical procedures that last a longer or shorter time than scheduled. The lack of predictability is a result of inaccuracy in scheduling and variability in the duration of procedures. ⋯ MONTE CARLO SIMULATION of ORs scheduled with various combinations of short and long procedures supports this concept's validity. RESULTS INDICATE that scheduling short procedures first can improve on-time performance and decrease staff member overtime expense without reducing surgical throughput.