Total caseload of a colorectal surgical unit: baseline measurement and identification of areas for efficiency gains

Abstract

Purpose: Resource limitations are a concern in most modern public hospital systems. The aim of this study is to prospectively quantify the total caseload of a tertiary colorectal surgery unit to identify areas of redundancy. Methods: Data was collected prospectively at all points of clinical care (outpatient clinic, inpatient referrals, operating theatre and endoscopy) between March 2014 and March 2015 using specifically designed templates. The final data was analysed using descriptive statistics. Results: During the study period, 4012 patient episodes were recorded: 2871 in outpatient clinic, 186 as emergency patient referrals, 541 at colonoscopy and 414 at surgery. The largest component of..