Tackling Productivity Challenges in Perioperative and SPD: Insights from Brian Dawson

The healthcare sector suffered a major setback due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Providing high-quality services to patients is a priority. However, for healthcare facilities to run properly, managers and directors must make operational and strategic decisions, especially in the perioperative setting. Efficient operating room (OR) management involves maintaining equilibrium between optimal OR capacity, allocation of ORs to surgeons, assignment of staff, ordering of materials, and reliable scheduling while giving the highest priority to patient safety.

But what are the challenges in SPD Management and ensuring high-quality perioperative services?

On a recent episode of the ConCensis Podcast, host Michelle Mooney sat down with Brian Dawson, the System VP of Perioperative Services for CommonSpirit Health, to discuss the challenges in measuring productivity in the perioperative setting and SPD. Measuring productivity in the OR is totally different from the sterile processing department. AAMI, one of the SPD governing bodies, has developed a chart indicating the average time required to perform various tasks. Tasks are categorized into four levels.

With this information, Censis can monitor the tasks done in SPD to determine the number of staff required based on workload.

"Most facilities like CommonSpirit Health measure OR productivity through minutes of service- how many minutes do patients spend in the OR and how many people are required to care for them," Dawson said. "Then, based on that, we can look at how many minutes were used in the OR and how many staff were required, and then we can determine if it is balanced, over, or under productivity. The big picture is to have a comprehensive data sharing which allows for proper assignment, division, and staff utilization."

The big picture is to have a comprehensive data sharing which allows for proper assignment, division, and staff utilization.
— Brian Dawson, System VP of Perioperative Services at CommonSpirit Health

Final words to other healthcare facilities that need a tool to measure productivity: find one that suits your procedural area so you can capitalize on the asset you have to generate revenue.

Brian Dawson, the System VP of Perioperative Services at CommonSpirit Health, holds a Bachelor of Science-Nursing degree from American University and a Master's of Science-Nursing and Health Care Administration degree from Old Dominion University. With over 28 years of nursing experience, his insights offer valuable guidance for healthcare professionals navigating the complexities of perioperative and SPD management.