Reducing Preoperative Waiting-time in a Pediatric Eye Operation Theater by Optimizing Process Flow: A Pilot Quality Improvement Project

ABSTRACT

Objective: To decrease the preoperative area waiting-time forchildren posted for eye surgery.Methods: A pilot quality improvement project was conducted in asingle paediatric eye operation theatre in our tertiary-carehospital. Operation theatre process flow was analyzed, baselinedata was collected, and two Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles wereperformed on consecutive days. Average and maximal waiting-time were recorded across six operation theatre days.Results: The average and maximal waiting time at baseline were221 and 390 minutes, respectively. After two rapid Plan-Do-Study-Act cycles, these were reduced to 29 (87% reduction) and 52minutes (87% reduction) from baseline, respectively, and couldsubsequently be sustained.Conclusion: Preoperative waiting time in ophthalmic operationtheatre was significantly reduced by simple process flowoptimization, thereby improving quality of care.