Association between operational indexes and the utilization rate of a general surgery center.

This is a prospective study that focused on the dynamics of operating rooms using operational indexes that measure optimization, resistance, overload and utilization of the surgical unit, and also identified the factors most associated with these indexes. A total of 1,908 surgeries were analyzed over a period of two months in 2007. The average rates of utilization, optimization and resistance indexes were 80.41%, 65.35% and 34.65% respectively. The difference between the positive and negative overload index was low (5.42%). Operating room rescheduling and delays were the variables that contributed the most to the increase in these indexes. In the linear regression statistical model, the utilization rate was found to be the first common variable selected in the overload, resistance and optimization indexes. It is essential to work on these operational indexes with a view to obtain satisfactory results in the management of the surgical center, with well-defined work processes and teamwork.