CST OR Efficiency & Case Flow 5

Question 1

Which factor is MOST likely to cause cascading schedule delays throughout an OR suite's day?

Accepted Answer

An unplanned extended case in the first room of the day

Answer

An overrun first case displaces all subsequent cases in that room, creating a ripple effect that can affect multiple ORs sharing staff and equipment.

Question 2

During a case, the surgeon requests a specimen be sent for frozen section. The scrub tech's role is to:

Accepted Answer

Pass the specimen off the sterile field to the circulator using correct labeling and chain-of-custody protocol

Answer

The scrub tech passes the specimen off the sterile field to the circulator while maintaining sterility; the circulator then handles labeling, documentation, and transport.

Question 3

In the context of OR case flow, 'wheels in' time refers to:

Accepted Answer

The time the patient enters the OR suite

Answer

'Wheels in' is a standardized OR efficiency timestamp marking when the patient is transported into the OR room, used to calculate room setup and anesthesia prep times.

Question 4

Which behavior by the scrub technician MOST improves intraoperative communication efficiency?

Accepted Answer

Proactively announcing the next anticipated instrument or supply need aloud so the team can prepare

Answer

Verbalizing anticipated needs allows the circulator to prepare items in advance, reducing the time between request and delivery.

Question 5

A post-case debrief ('hot debrief') conducted immediately after a procedure primarily serves to:

Accepted Answer

Identify efficiency gaps and safety concerns while the case is fresh, enabling rapid process improvement

Answer

Immediate post-case debriefs capture real-time observations about what went well and what could improve before details are forgotten, driving continuous quality improvement.

(CST) Certified Surgery Technician Practice Test

(CST) Certified Surgery Technician Practice Test

CST OR Efficiency & Case Flow 5