OR Efficiency & Case Flow Flashcards

A surgeon requests an instrument that is not on the sterile field during a case. The scrub tech's BEST response is:

Answer: Request the circulator to obtain it using sterile transfer technique while maintaining field integrity

The circulator obtains off-field items and passes them to the scrub tech using sterile transfer technique, preserving the sterile field and keeping the case flowing.

Proper instrument passing technique during surgery is important for efficiency because:

Answer: Anticipating the surgeon's needs and passing instruments decisively reduces hesitation and operative time

Confident, anticipatory instrument passing keeps the operative tempo high and minimizes the surgeon's distraction between maneuvers.

Which practice BEST reduces the risk of a retained foreign object (RFO) while maintaining case flow?

Answer: Performing methodical counts at defined intervals — before incision, before closure, and at skin closure — without shortcuts

Standardized counts at defined intervals provide both patient safety and legal protection without significantly impeding case flow when performed methodically.

The concept of 'surgeon preference card maintenance' is critical to OR efficiency because:

Answer: Outdated cards cause wrong supplies to be pulled, creating intraoperative delays and waste

Preference cards that reflect the surgeon's current technique and supply preferences ensure accurate case cart builds and prevent mid-case shortages.

During orthopedic case setup, the scrub tech notices the power drill battery is not charged. The BEST action is:

Answer: Immediately notify the circulator so a charged battery or backup is obtained before the case begins

Equipment failure discovered before incision can be corrected without delaying the case; discovering it intraoperatively causes a preventable and disruptive pause.

What is the primary benefit of a 'parallel induction' model in the OR suite?

Answer: Anesthesia is induced in an induction room while the prior case is closing, eliminating anesthesia setup time from OR turnover

Parallel induction decouples anesthesia preparation from OR turnover, so the patient is fully induced and ready to enter the room as soon as it is cleaned and set.

A scrub tech notices a delay in case start because the patient's consent form does not match the scheduled procedure. The scrub tech should:

Answer: Stop setup and immediately alert the circulator and surgeon to resolve the discrepancy before proceeding

A consent-to-schedule discrepancy is a patient safety event that must be resolved before any surgical preparation continues, per The Joint Commission's Universal Protocol.