Abstract
Background: Day case surgeries are designed for efficiency and patient convenience. However, high cancellation rates compromise resource utilization and patient satisfaction. The OPD at Wadi Al -Dawaser General Hospital, Riyadh Region, Kigdom of Saudi Arabia, experienced a 20% cancellation rate, often due to poor preparation, assessment gaps, or administrative issues.
Objective: To reduce day case surgery cancellations from 20% to less than 5% through targeted interventions, including structured preoperative assessments, patient education, improved communication, and scheduling standardization.
Methods: A three-month quality improvement project was conducted from January to April 2025. Interventions included protocol development, staff training, implementation of checklists, patient education materials, and weekly team reviews. Data from October 2024 to March 2025 were analyzed for trend evaluation.
Results: Cancellation rates dropped to 1.5%, achieving a 53% reduction. Preoperative assessment completion improved from 65% to 95%, and patient no-show rates reduced from 5% to 2%. Compliance with the new scheduling SOP increased to 98%, while surgeon roster adherence reached 92%.
Conclusion: Multidisciplinary collaboration, staff education, and system-level improvements successfully minimized day case surgery cancellations and improved overall surgical workflow in the OPD.