Clinically reviewed by Robert Taylor, BSN, RN,

Medline Senior Clinical Solutions Manager

In your operating room, every patient is unique. Every surgery is unique. At the same time, standardization across the perioperative environment can make a positive difference – for your patients and your organization. From surgical kits to supplies, what you use and how you use them matters. So does how they’re packaged. Let’s take a look at surgical packs and how optimizing them can improve your operating room efficiency.

Benefits of surgical pack optimization

The complexity and unpredictability of surgical procedures can make it seem difficult to simplify processes and products. Staffing issues and ineffective communication can exacerbate the situation. Here’s what happens when you standardize and optimize surgical packs.

• Streamline and standardize the items used for each procedure: By standardizing surgical packs, you ensure that every pack contains the exact items needed for specific procedures. Variability is reduced and consistency is improved, which can lead to fewer errors and better surgical outcomes. Standardization also simplifies training for new staff, as they become familiar with a consistent set of tools and supplies.
• Reduce touchpoints: Fewer touchpoints mean less handling of sterile items, which reduces the risk of contamination and infection. It also speeds up the preparation process, as staff spend less time searching for and assembling the necessary items. You’re promoting a safer and more efficient surgical environment.
• Minimize case pick: You reduce the number of individual items to select and prepare for each surgery. Optimized surgical packs contain all necessary items, reducing the time and effort required to gather supplies. You can realize significant time savings and reduce the likelihood of missing items.
• Reduce turnover times: Faster turnover times between surgeries mean that operating rooms can be used more efficiently. You can streamline the setup and cleanup processes, allowing for quicker transitions between cases.
• Improve overall surgical supply flow processes: A well-organized supply flow ensures that surgical packs are readily available when needed, reducing delays and interruptions. Improved supply flow also means that inventory levels can be more accurately managed, reducing waste and resulting in better resource management.

“When you don’t have the supplies you need on hand, case setup time increases.”

Angela Pfeiffer

Medline Manager, Clinical Solutions

How are patients affected? “You can’t wheel the patient into the OR until the room is ready,” says Angela Pfeiffer, Medline Manager, Clinical Solutions. “When you don’t have the supplies you need on hand, case setup time increases. It affects the patient experience and satisfaction.”

“And staff satisfaction,” adds Robert Taylor, BSN, RN, Medline Senior Clinical Solutions Manager.

Operating room efficiency metrics

Hospitals commonly use the following measures:

• Utilization rates—Total utilization time per OR per month
• OR throughput—Number of operations per OR per month
• OR turnover time (Wheels Out to Wheels In)—Duration of time between a surgical patient being wheeled out of the OR and a new patient being wheeled in
• On-time start—Percentage of first cases of the day that start on time, typically defined as the patient being in the OR at the scheduled start time. Most facilities allow for a 15-minute grace period. This is an important metric to keep the OR running smoothly all day.¹
• Staff overtime—Amount of overtime pay paid to OR staff due to lack of on-time starts, increased turnaround times, incorrect staffing levels, gaps in the schedule, over booking or patient complications¹

It’s easy to see how the surgical packs you use, along with other surgical kits such as anesthesia trays and surgical instrument sets, can help improve your metrics.

What you’ll want to provide so we can help you

So how do you get started on the process? “If you’re able to pinpoint and customize what your organization needs, you’ll be able to provide better patient care,” Pfeiffer says. “That goes hand in hand with when you have what is needed in the pack, and we’ve customized that pack to meet your organization’s needs, you’re positioned to improve the patient experience.”

“Ordering starts to become a little easier, and you can maintain your PAR levels better.”

Robert Taylor, BSN, RN

Medline Senior Clinical Solutions Manager

Here’s what we need to get started:

Preference cards

These cards detail the specific instruments and supplies preferred by each surgeon for different procedures. This information helps us customize packs to meet the unique preferences and requirements of the surgical team, ensuring that all necessary items are included and reducing the need for additional supplies during surgery.

Surgical volume

Knowing the volume of surgeries performed helps us understand the demand for surgical packs. This information is crucial for inventory management, ensuring that your hospital has an adequate supply of packs without overstocking, which can lead to waste.

Current surgical pack contents

Reviewing the contents of existing surgical packs allows us to identify any redundancies or missing items. We can then optimize the packs by including only the necessary items, which can reduce costs and improve efficiency.

Approximately 60%

of hospital patients visit the OR during their hospital stay²

Access to clinical team leads for interviews

These interviews provide insights into the practical challenges and needs of the surgical team. Qualitative information helps us understand the workflow, preferences and pain points, enabling us to design packs that better support the surgical process.

Observation of current process (from Dock to Doc)

Observing the entire process, from receiving supplies to their use in the operating room, helps us identify inefficiencies and areas for improvement. This holistic view enables us to recommend changes that streamline the supply chain and enhance the overall efficiency of surgical pack usage.

Pack to shelf (SKU management)

Understanding how surgical packs are managed from storage to use helps us ensure that packs are organized and easily accessible. Effective SKU management reduces the time spent searching for packs and ensures that the right packs are available when needed, improving overall workflow and reducing delays.

“Part of pack optimization is having fewer items on the shelf,” Taylor says. “That goes along with inventory control. Ordering starts to become a little easier, and you can maintain your PAR levels better.”

Key takeaway

Surgical procedures by nature are complex. The more you can simplify and streamline products and processes, the better you’re able to increase efficiency in the operating room. Making the most of your surgical packs with your medical supply partner is a key component of optimizing workflow across your perioperative environment. Why not get started.

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