ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Objective To reduce surgical center idleness by analyzing the competitive structure of the surgical center in a hospital, and thereby generate value in operations and increase hospital revenue. Methods The study used qualitative and quantitative methods and an action research approach involving the surgical center leadership of a small private specialized hospital in southeastern Brazil. We used the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats or SWOT tool to analyze the competitive structure of the surgical center and then implemented interventions as proposed by the science of improvement method proposed by the Institute of Healthcare Improvement. Results By applying the SWOT tool, we identified a concentration of surgeries in the specialty of Otolaryngology and the need to establish a health management system to reduce the idleness of the operating rooms. Based on subsequent intervention, procedures from other specialties were inserted that increased surgical production by 2.62X, reduced idleness by 67.84%, and increased revenue by over US$ 276,609.87 in 2018 compared to the previous year 2017. Conclusion Investing in quality, surgical schedule management, and inducting new surgeons to the clinical staff resulted in decreased surgical idleness, increased production, better uniformity in scheduling, and increased revenue, while costs remained below the linear trend, allowing for increased profits.