How one clinic can optimize OR resources by batching retrieval days

Challenge

Operating rooms are one of the most resource-intensive parts of any fertility clinic, making efficient scheduling a top priority. Reducing the total number of OR days used for oocyte retrievals by batching procedures effectively without compromising patient care would help optimize resources. From August through mid-December 2024 the clinic had 30 days with zero retrievals and wanted to see if that number could increase to create a more predictable and efficient use of staff and facilities.

Outcome

Alife’s Schedule Predict™ analyzes scheduling patterns using a predictive analytics designed to optimize procedure timing. Through a retrospective analysis of the clinic’s data, Alife’s model showed that it could have increased the number of zero retrieval days from 30 to 55 over the same period, a 63% improvement. Translating that reduction over the span of a year estimates 60 fewer OR days. With the daily OR cost estimated at $8,960, this clinic projects a total cost savings of approximately $600k. By identifying patients whose trigger timing could be safely shifted, this clinic could maximize batching, reduce the number of OR days needed, and optimize resource utilization, all while maintaining a high standard of care.