OBJECTIVES : This study aims to develop a robust approach for collecting budget impact model (BIM) inputs to estimate economic impacts of custom surgical packs, a set of disposables and sterile surgical supplies optimally arranged and customized for each surgeon, on cataract surgery in United States (US) hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs). A comprehensive surgical supply coverage maximizes the model’s flexibility and applicability. The time and motion study is designed to quantify time spent for each item throughout the entire life cycle from negotiating prices to surgery room preparation.

METHODS : A time and motion study was developed using a two-pronged approach: an online survey and surgical timings. The survey was conducted among surgical technicians and supply chain managers assessing current cataract surgery practices including operating room, materials management, and accounting tasks. Surgical technicians timed 5-10 cataract surgeries at their facility, recording activity timestamps and surgical supply use from Alcon Custom Pak® and other sources. Using these inputs, a BIM was developed to estimate time spent and labor costs across three facility departments.

RESULTS : 56 surgical technicians and 23 supply chain managers recruited from a geographical mix of hospital and ASC facilities completed the survey; technicians timed 290 cataract surgeries. Individually sourcing surgical supply items incurs labor time per item (minimum-maximum for each surgery, in minutes): 0.54-3.54 operating room, 0.04-1.00 materials management, and 0.01-0.22 accounting, depending on facility type, translating to average labor costs per surgery ranging (ASC-hospital) from USD$510.52-$974.57, USD$26.55-USD$34.20, and USD$0.27-USD$0.49, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS : Conducting self-reported time and motion study by surgical facility via an online survey instrument and by surgery using timing exercises allowed us to quantify and calculate the economic impact of custom surgical pack use versus sourcing surgical items individually. These calculations enable analysis of potential costs and time savings with and without the Custom Pak®.