One observation that has arisen from multiple webinars is that some people do not have the talent for this. They can’t envision a structure nor have use of software tools that help them productively schedule. Since a normal OR has frequent change-overs of the person directing cases throughout the day, there will be many times when someone not adept at case flow, or the software, will be in charge.
A possible solution for this is for scheduling to be done as a service. People trained with good software tools that aid their natural organizing ability can run an OR from off-site. The on-site OR crew’s knowledge of individual OR rooms, surgeons, nurses, and anesthesiologists can be leveraged to good advantage by the off-site scheduler. For long term engagements, dedicated off-site schedulers will come to know the intricacies of an individual OR well and be able to free up the on-site schedulers when needed.
Scheduling affects too many people, involves too much revenue (millions), and can incur too much cost to be relegated to poorly trained staff using meeting-room software if a facility wants to continue to be competitive.