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Clinical Improvement/Innovation

81 - First Case On Time Starts (FCOTS) Improvement Initiative

Location: Hall E
Disclosure(s):
Erika Klika, BSN, RN, ST: No financial relationships to disclose
Joseph Velasco, BSN, RN-CPAN: No financial relationships to disclose
Benjamin Loza, BSN, Jr.: No financial relationships to disclose
Josefina Ortiz, RN: No financial relationships to disclose
Jennifer Martinez, MBA: No financial relationships to disclose
Cassandra Ciavarella, MSN, RN: No financial relationships to disclose


Description: Procedures scheduled before 9AM in the main operating room at Advocate Christ Hospital were not in the room prior to or at the scheduled time.

In the main operating room, fewer than 50% of scheduled cases arrived on time. A First Case On Time Start (FCOTS) project was initiated with the goal of ensuring that 80% of first cases scheduled before 9am arrive in the operating room on time.

The working group conducted audits, and implemented various projects, to achieve the goal of improving on time starts. The projects included daily audits (observational and record review); a daily morning FCOTS huddle, monthly committee meetings, and weekly leadership meetings; education on delay reasons, and how they can be avoided, or minimized going forward; education on documentation delay reasons in EPIC; identifying delay reasons through drilldowns, and action planning.

Data is currently pending to show results.

Through improved Perioperative teamwork and communication, FCOTS will increase overall OR efficiency, resulting in improved patient safety, patient and teammate satisfaction, cost reduction, and increased overall hospital throughput.