Technology-Enabled Theatre Scheduling Systems

Key Messages

• There is limited published evidence investigating the implementation of technology-enabled scheduling systems to optimise theatre scheduling.
• Our NHSScotland survey demonstrates a large variation in theatre scheduling practices across health boards.
• The use of a technology-enabled theatre scheduling system may improve the consistency and efficiency of theatre scheduling. Potential benefits of an automated system include:
  • reduced patient cancellations and waste
  • enhanced data analysis capabilities.
• The challenges of introducing an automated system include:
  • anxiety and resistance to change among staff.
  • concerns about inadequate training, technical skills, and funding
  • potential safety risks arising from data breaches, inadequate training, and support.
  • technical risks.
• Our independent evaluation of the Infix® theatre scheduling technology in NHS Lothian provided some evidence that the technology can increase operating theatre efficiency. Within ophthalmology, throughput of patients per session increased from four to five (an increase of 26%) and throughput per hour increased by 25% after the implementation of Infix®. For ENT, operating session utilisation increased following the implementation of Infix®, though this did not translate into increased patient throughput. In the maxillofacial and plastics specialities, there were no significant changes in theatre efficiency.
• Further data collection must accompany the roll out of a technology-enabled theatre scheduling system within Scotland, aligned to the Infix® evaluation. These data will help ensure that the potential value of the new system is realised.