The Hidden Cost of Inefficiency in the OR
The Quest for Surgical Efficiency
The operating room is the engine of any surgical department. When it runs well, everyone benefits: patients, physicians, staff…and so do the center’s finances. But when inefficiencies go unchecked, health systems lose time, money, and capacity without even realizing it. At EyeQ, we hope to shine a light on where those losses occur and how to fix them.
Take corneal transplants, for example. In our previous study of endothelial keratoplasty, a type of corneal transplant, we found that using "preloaded" cornea grafts (prepared by eye banks instead of by the surgeon in the operating room) shaved significant time off the procedure. Even though preloaded grafts carry a higher upfront price for the surgery center, the time saved was more valuable. And some payers reimburse for that expense, so the preloaded grafts offered a win-win for the surgery center.
In pediatric ophthalmology, we studied the cost of exams under anesthesia for children with ocular oncology diagnoses. While the examinations themselves were generally pretty short, the turnover between cases made up a disproportionate share of the total cost. It was a textbook example of how "non-procedural" time (e.g., patient transport, cleaning, setup) can quietly drain resources. You can optimize surgical technique all day long, but if turnover eats 40% of your OR time, you're missing an easy win.
Why this matters for healthcare organizations
OR time is one of the most expensive resources in a health system, by most measures costing thousands of dollars per hour. But too often, the focus is only on the procedure itself. Our research shows that what happens before and between cases can be just as costly and more easily fixed. When delays and inefficiencies go unmeasured, they go unsolved.
Whether it’s shaving minutes off a corneal transplant or redesigning turnover protocols in pediatric ophthalmology, small changes can add up to big wins. Better throughput. Higher revenue. Lower costs. Happier teams. More patients seen.
How EyeQ Can Help
EyeQ helps health systems map their OR workflows with precision and clarity. We can help you quantify time, cost, and inefficiency across the full surgical episode, and utilize your own data to its full potential. We show you where delays happen, how much they cost, and what improvements will pay off.
If your OR feels like a black box, it doesn’t have to be. With EyeQ, you get the data to drive real change - from procurement to patient flow. And when your OR runs smarter, your whole system gets healthier.
Sources
Goldstein JK, Portney DS, Kirby R, Verkade A, Mian SI. Cost Drivers of Endothelial Keratoplasty: A Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing Analysis. Ophthalmology. 2023 Oct;130(10):1073-1079.
Portney DS, Demirci H. Spotlighting Turnover Costs for Pediatric Ocular Oncology Exams under Anesthesia. Ocul Oncol Pathol. 2024 Dec;10(4):247-251
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cost-drivers-of-endothelial-keratoplasty/id1610193817?i=1000643799912
