OSF HealthCare cuts 87,000+ minutes of unused block time and grows case volume 4.5% with iQueue for Operating Rooms

OSF Saint Francis Medical Center relied on Excel spreadsheets and fragmented communication for OR scheduling, with slow EHR data extraction and no shared metrics visibility. Surgeons struggled to access needed block time while other blocks sat idle, and real-time coordination was nearly impossible with schedulers working from an off-site facility.

OSF implemented iQueue for Operating Rooms from LeanTaaS, replacing manual spreadsheet workflows with a data-driven platform providing real-time scheduling visibility, proactive block release behaviors, and utilization analytics. The rollout included dedicated change management, executive sponsorship from surgical and operational leaders, and hands-on partnership with the LeanTaaS implementation team.

In one year, block utilization increased 4.4%, unused block time dropped by over 87,000 minutes, and prime time utilization rose 4.8%. Block release lead time nearly doubled from 14 to 23 days, staffed room utilization improved 2.6% even while adding capacity, and case volume grew 4.5% through more efficient scheduling workflows.

• Real-time data visibility changes clinician behavior: one surgeon discovered her perceived block utilization issue was actually a turnover time problem — something invisible under the old spreadsheet model.
• Doubling block release lead time (14 → 23 days) creates compounding scheduling flexibility and reduces last-minute pressure on schedulers.
• Technology alone does not transform an OR; executive sponsorship, clinical leadership buy-in, and a true vendor partnership are prerequisites for adoption and cultural change.