Comparison of subjective versus data base approaches for improving efficiency of operating room scheduling.

This paper compares subjective and four data-based models to estimate length of surgery for operating room scheduling systems. The four data-based models for predicting case block length are based on 1) procedure, 2) procedure and surgeon, 3) procedure and case complexity, and 4) procedure, case complexity, and surgeon. Data-based approaches performed better than subjective estimates. In establishing data-based standards it is more important to account for complexity of cases than for differences among surgeons.