Abstract
In the healthcare setting, surgery is considered one of the most complex activities, also from an organizational perspective. The optimisation of resources devoted to surgical pathways is mandatory, as demonstrated by an initiative of Italian Ministry of Health: in January 2018, a pilot study was developed aiming at the definition of a set of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) useful to monitor the operating room activities and to be used by the hospitals at national level. A literature review was performed in order to investigate KPIs already used to monitor the performance of the surgical pathway. A dedicated team was also established to further explore specific KPIs for the surgical pathway. Between April and May 2021, an online survey was structured to investigate KPIs really monitored by Italian hospitals for the surgical pathway. The invitation to participate was sent to 398 Italian healthcare organizations. The results provided an overview of the Italian situation taking into consideration the monitoring of performance of surgical pathway. These monitoring activities are not yet conducted systemically but should be consolidated and standardised using also specific tool, as the dashboard proposed, by multidisciplinary teams in order to balance technical and clinical components.