TY  - JOUR
T1  - System-Level Capacity Optimization to Eliminate Dental Treatment Waiting Lists: Bed Management–Led Quality Improvement Study
A1  - Asma Dokhi Al Hamazani
A1  - Abdullah Ali Al Robayan
A1  - Faisal Lafi Al Mutairi
A1  - Khuloud Fahad Al Ghamdi
A1  - Sabah Thani Al Anazi
A1  - Fesal Suleman Al Salem
A1  - Raghad A. Al Rubayan
JF  - Turkish Journal of Public Health Dentistry
JO  - Turk J Public Health Dent
SN  - 3062-3359
Y1  - 2026
VL  - 6
IS  - 2
DO  - 10.51847/s7tadjowvK
SP  - 37
EP  - 41
N2  - To evaluate the impact of a bed management–led, multidisciplinary capacity optimization initiative on reducing a prolonged waiting list for hospital-based dental treatment under GA. This single-center quality improvement study was conducted in a tertiary hospital. All patients on the existing waiting list were reviewed; no sampling was performed. Baseline capacity allowed treatment of two patients per week, comprising one day-case and one inpatient admission. The intervention included waiting-list validation, formation of a multidisciplinary taskforce, optimization of weekday scheduling, increased cases per theater, and structured weekend surgical sessions supported by overtime staffing. Primary outcomes were weekly treatment throughput, waiting-list reduction and clearance, cancellations, and major safety outcomes. Descriptive statistics were used. Of 190 patients initially listed, 99 (52.1%) remained eligible after validation. Weekly throughput increased from 2 to 12 patients, representing an absolute increase of 10 patients, a 500% relative increase, and a rate ratio of 6.0. Within two months, 96 patients completed treatment and 3 patients (3.0%) were cancelled. No major anesthesia-related complications, intensive care unit transfers, or deaths were reported. The validated waiting list was eliminated within two months without capital investment or infrastructure expansion. A bed management–led operational redesign substantially increased dental GA throughput and eliminated a prolonged validated waiting list within a short period. Strategic OR utilization, coordinated bed allocation, regular waiting-list validation, and multidisciplinary collaboration may improve access to hospital-based dental GA services without permanent infrastructure expansion.
UR  - https://tjphd.com/article/system-level-capacity-optimization-to-eliminate-dental-treatment-waiting-lists-bed-managementled-q-j3gndc9yrkq1xqm
ER  -