Improvement In Or Workflow Efficiency Through Workforce Restructuring

To train medical assistants in the role of Ophthalmic OR assistant, performing tasks to improve OR workflow efficiency in cataract surgery. This will free specialized OR nurses for complex cases, reduce workflow dependency, and provide attractive career perspectives. 

Academic hospital, Maastricht, the Netherlands; in partnership with Hoge-school Zuyd and a advisory board including regional hospitals.

Medical assistants follow a 15-week modular program combining online lessons, hands-on practice and competency assessments. This training program formalizes task redistribution, allowing medical assistants to gradually take over tasks normally done bij specialized OR nurses. The program is currently being implemented, with workflow evaluation quality monitoring, and stakeholder feedback planned. 

Pilot results indicate that trained medical assistants can perform tasks, previously performed bij specialized OR nurses. Expected benefits are a more efficient OR planning and execution and an improved team satisfaction while maintaining patient safety. The program is scalable and our cataract surgery case study can be implemented in other hospitals, preparing medical assistants to take on OR-assistant duties, thereby decreasing OR nurse workforce dependency. Similar case studies will be developed for other subspecialties (retina, cornea, glaucoma) and enhance long-term career perspectives. 

The cataract OR assistant program improves OR workflow efficiency with consistent quality, through reallocation of routine tasks. It provides medical assistants with attractive career perspectives, addresses workforce shortages strategically, and is a case study for implementation in other hospitals.