OR Efficiency & Case Flow Flashcards
7 cards from real CST practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 OR Efficiency & Case Flow flashcards as text
Which action most directly reduces OR turnover time between cases?
Answer: Performing parallel processing by setting up the next room while closing is in progress
Parallel processing — preparing the next OR while the current case is still closing — is the single most impactful strategy for reducing turnover time.
A surgeon's preference card lists a specific retractor that is unavailable. The FIRST action the scrub tech should take is:
Answer: Notify the circulator so an acceptable substitute can be sourced or the surgeon informed before incision
Notifying the circulator before the case begins allows time to locate the item or communicate the substitute to the surgeon, preventing intraoperative delays.
When does the scrub technician typically begin setting up the sterile field for the next case in an efficient OR?
Answer: Immediately after the final count is confirmed and while closing continues in the other OR
In a two-room or staggered-case model, the scrub tech sets up the next sterile field in the adjoining OR during closing of the prior case.
What is the primary purpose of a standardized case cart system?
Answer: To ensure all required supplies and instruments are gathered and verified before the case reaches the OR
Standardized case carts are pre-assembled according to the surgeon's preference card so everything needed arrives with the case, minimizing last-minute runs.
During case flow, 'first case on-time start' (FCOTS) is defined as:
Answer: Incision occurring at or before the scheduled incision time for the day's first case
FCOTS is measured by whether incision occurs on time for the first scheduled case of the day, as delays cascade through the entire OR schedule.
Which item is the scrub technician responsible for reviewing BEFORE opening sterile supplies?
Answer: The surgeon's preference card and the procedure consent form to confirm correct procedure and side
Reviewing the preference card and consent form ensures the correct supplies are opened for the correct procedure and laterality, preventing wrong-site or wrong-procedure setups.
Which communication tool is MOST effective for maintaining OR efficiency when the schedule changes intraoperatively?
Answer: Using a real-time OR scheduling board visible to all team members with immediate updates
A real-time visible scheduling system allows all staff to self-adjust priorities simultaneously, preventing communication gaps that delay cases.