Elective Surgical Cancellations in a Tertiary Hospital in the Middle East: Quality Improvement Process

Narmeen Al Talalwah, Kimberly H. McIltrot, Abdulaziz Al Ghamdi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: Cancellation of elective surgery negatively affects patient outcomes and the efficiency of the work environment. The purpose of this project was to analyze the cancellation of elective surgeries and identify the best evidence-based interventions to address cancellations in a tertiary hospital in the Middle East. Design: A quality improvement study design. Methods: A retrospective review of cancellations conducted over two 3-month periods in 2016 and 2017. Findings: In both phases of the audit, patient-related reasons were the leading cause of cancellations. Conducting a preoperative call 2 days before surgery and doing a weekly review of the surgery schedule reduced cancellations from 3.8% to 3.5%. Cancellations because of patient-related reasons reduced from 81% to 79.7% whereas cancellations because of hospital-related reasons reduced from 17.5% to 15.9%. Conclusions: Cancellation of surgeries is a worldwide health care issue and without understanding the causes of cancellations, it is difficult to devise an effective intervention to address this issue.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)310-321
Number of pages12
JournalJournal of Perianesthesia Nursing
Volume34
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2019

Keywords

  • elective surgery
  • postanesthesia care unit
  • preoperative calls
  • quality improvement
  • surgery cancellations
  • surgery delay

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Medical–Surgical

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