The use of flip rooms is becoming a more common challenge for anesthesia practices, according to Anesthesia Business Consultants President and CEO Tony Mira.
Four thoughts from Mr. Mira:
1. The concept of flip rooms is that a productive surgeon can quickly move from one operating room to another at the conclusion of a case.
2. This approach requires two separate anesthesia providers to be assigned to a single surgeon, according to Mr. Mira. Therefore, it's important to know how each surgeon's coverage requirements could affect anesthesia staffing.
3. ABC analyzed data from cases performed by six clients in September and October, discovering that the average percentage of flip room days was 14 percent, although there was significant variation.
4. Depending on how many cases are scheduled, flip rooms "may lead to less than optimal outcomes," Mr. Mira said. "While not all anesthesia practices are care team practices, the data does seem to indicate that they are better positioned to deal with the impact of flip rooms — especially when considering that the second room is invariably a less productive room."
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