Illustrative case study · Healthcare & Life Sciences

The OR’s two sides split on tools, except for one.

Surgeons with block time and the administrators who run the operating room schedule both have a say in its software. A medtech company had eight scheduling concepts and budget to build one first, so we interviewed 200 surgeons and administrators. It took 12 days to deliver the report.

Illustrative scenario

Samplen = 200

Illustrative report

Operating Room Scheduling Tools Concept Test

Which of eight OR scheduling concepts should a medtech company build first?

Study architecture

Rank the conceptsAll eight concepts ranked by every respondent

Time the adoptionWhen hospitals would adopt the leading concepts

Compare the rolesEach side’s picks, and its guess of the other side’s

Scope

Surgeons and administrators may each back a different tool, and either side can stall a rollout.

Sample

200

Surgeons with weekly block time and the administrators who run OR schedules.

Research by

Study typeFeature prioritization

ScenarioIllustrative

OR scheduling concepts · Executive reportExecutive summary

Executive summary

Surgeons and administrators back different tools, and agree on case duration prediction

The 200 surgeons and OR administrators ranked eight scheduling concepts. Surgeons put a self-scheduling app first and administrators put automatic block release first, and each group misreads the other. Case duration prediction is the one concept in both groups’ top three, and administrators expect to adopt it soonest.

41%n = 110

of surgeons rank the self-scheduling app first

38%n = 90

of administrators rank block release first

64%n = 200

rank case duration prediction in their top three

23%n = 90

of administrators guessed the surgeons’ first choice

Figures rounded. Base n = 200 surgeons and administrators unless stated.

Top lines

1Each group puts a different concept firstFirst choice among eight concepts, by role03

2Case duration prediction is the one shared pickTop-three shares for the five leading concepts04

3Administrators would adopt duration prediction soonestExpected adoption timing05

4Each side misreads what the other wantsGuesses of the other group’s first choice06

5Sample, screener and quality controlWho we interviewed and how07

AAppendixConcept descriptions and data tables09

Sample

200 surgeons and administrators

Roles

110 surgeons, 90 administrators

Method

8 concepts, fully ranked

Cross-check

Each side guessed the other’s pick

Illustrative report. The company, scenario, and all figures are fictional.

Illustrative report02

Illustrative reportExecutive summary

Illustrative example. The company, scenario, and all figures are fictional. They show UserCue’s method and deliverable format. They do not come from any client study.

The engagement

Delivered in

days, with the report, the data file and a live readout.

Interviews

200

Surgeons and administrators who run the operating room.

Audiences

110 surgeons and 90 OR administrators.

Method

Concept test

Each side ranked all eight concepts, then guessed the other side’s pick.

The brief

Client

A medtech company

Decision

Which of eight OR scheduling concepts to build first

Stage

Product planning, before next year’s build

How we ran it

Approach

AI-moderated interviews with a ranked test of eight concepts

Measured

Concept ranking, adoption timing, each side’s guess of the other

Sample

Surgeons with weekly block time and OR administrators

Headline figures

Surgeons41%

of surgeons rank a self-scheduling app first

Administrators38%

of administrators rank automatic release of unused block time first

Common ground64%

rank case duration prediction in their top three, the only concept on both groups’ lists

The question

Which of eight operating room tools should be built first?

Eight concepts were on the table, from a self-scheduling app for surgeons to automatic release of unused block time, and the budget covered one build. Surgeons shape whether a tool gets used; administrators shape whether it gets bought.

Which of the eight concepts do surgeons and administrators rank highest?

How soon would hospitals adopt the leading concepts?

Where do the two groups disagree?

What we did

How the study ran, start to finish.

1Kickoff
Eight concepts, budget for one.
Which of our eight OR scheduling concepts should we build first? The kickoff turned it into three questions: what surgeons and administrators rank highest, how soon hospitals would adopt each favorite, and where the two groups part ways.
2Design
Two OR roles, eight concepts ranked.
The screener took surgeons who hold weekly block time and administrators who run the OR schedule or its budget: 110 surgeons, 90 administrators. Each respondent ranked all eight concepts, then guessed which concept the other group would put first.
3Fielding
200 OR leaders, in their own words.
Both groups chose voice or text, quant and qual together, median 32 minutes; a follow-up asked what would stop each top pick in their own OR. The researcher read all 238 and removed 38 for contradictions and surgeons without block time, leaving 200.
4Analysis
One concept made both top-three lists.
The researcher set the surgeons’ and administrators’ rankings side by side: their favorites differ, a self-scheduling app against automatic release of unused block time. Only case duration prediction sits in both top threes, for 58% of surgeons and 71% of administrators.
5Readout
Duration prediction is top three for 64%.
The researcher opened the product team’s live readout with each side’s guess of the other’s favorite, then every concept’s rank by role and the adoption timing, in a 38-page report with the full data file. Next year’s build now starts with case duration prediction.

What we found

Four findings from the report.

Summary

Surgeons and administrators want different things: surgeons pick a self-scheduling app, administrators pick automatic release of unused block time. Case duration prediction is the one concept in both groups’ top three, for 64% of respondents. Each side misreads the other: only 23% of administrators guessed the surgeons’ favorite.

OR scheduling concepts · Executive reportTop line 1

Top line 1 of 4

Each group puts a different concept first

¹ Q7. Rank these eight scheduling concepts from the one your hospital most needs to the least. Full ranking, n = 200.

² Concept descriptions, one screen of equal length each, are in the appendix.

Every respondent ranked all eight concepts. 41% of surgeons rank a self-scheduling app first, and 38% of administrators rank automatic release of unused block time first¹. Each favorite sits low on the other side’s list: administrators place the app seventh of eight, and surgeons place block release eighth of eight.

41%n = 110

of surgeons rank the self-scheduling app first

38%n = 90

of administrators rank block release first

7thof 8

the app’s place among administrators

8thof 8

block release’s place among surgeons

First choice among eight concepts, by role

First choice, surgeons (n = 110)

First choice, administrators (n = 90)

Ranked sixth to eighth by administrators (n = 90)

1Pre-op readiness tracking
2Self-scheduling app
3Add-on case queue

Full ranking of eight concepts, shown in rotated order. Base n = 200: 110 surgeons and 90 administrators.

Supporting evidence

Surgeons tie the self-scheduling app to control over their own block time. § 3.2
Administrators tie block release to filling idle rooms, which they are measured on. § 3.3²

Illustrative report03

OR scheduling concepts · Executive reportTop line 2

Top line 2 of 4

Case duration prediction is the one shared pick

¹ Top-three share from the full ranking, n = 200; 110 surgeons and 90 administrators.

² Overruns are self-reported cases running past their booked time; see the appendix.

Top-three shares show where the groups meet. Case duration prediction sits in the top three for 58% of surgeons and 71% of administrators, 64% overall¹. It is the only concept in both groups’ top three. Surgeons see fewer overruns into their next case; administrators see fuller days without overtime.

64%n = 200

rank case duration prediction in their top three

58%n = 110

of surgeons rank it top three

71%n = 90

of administrators rank it top three

1of 8

concept in both groups’ top three

Share ranking each concept in their top three

In the top three of eight (n = 200)

Top three concepts, surgeons (n = 110)

1Self-scheduling app
2Case duration prediction
3Live OR status board

Top three concepts, administrators (n = 90)

1Automatic block release
2Case duration prediction
3Turnover time tracker

Share placing each concept first, second or third in a full ranking of eight; shares add to 300 across concepts. The other three concepts each fall lower.

Supporting evidence

Duration prediction is the second choice in both groups, behind each group’s own favorite. § 4.2
Surgeons with the most overruns rank duration prediction higher than any other subgroup. § 4.3²

Illustrative report04

OR scheduling concepts · Executive reportTop line 3

Top line 3 of 4

Administrators would adopt duration prediction soonest

¹ Q18. When would your hospital be likely to adopt each of these tools? Single select per concept, administrators, n = 90.

² Q9. Would block release need a change to your block policy first? Single select, n = 200.

Administrators, who run the OR schedule or its budget, gave adoption timing for the four leading concepts. Half expect their hospital to adopt case duration prediction within a year¹, ahead of automatic block release at 41%, the live OR status board at 32% and the self-scheduling app at 18%. Block release waits on a change to block policy, which needs surgeon sign-off before any software.

50%n = 90

expect to adopt case duration prediction within a year

41%n = 90

expect to adopt block release within a year

18%n = 90

expect to adopt the self-scheduling app within a year

71%n = 90

say block release needs a policy change first

Expected adoption timing, four leading concepts

Expect adoption within a year, administrators (n = 90)

When administrators expect duration prediction (n = 90)

Within a yearOne to two yearsLater or never

Block release needs a policy change first

Adoption timing asked of administrators only, since they run the OR schedule or its budget. Single select per concept; shares rounded.

Supporting evidence

Administrators say duration prediction fits the scheduling software they already run, which shortens the path to purchase. § 5.2
Most surgeons agree block release needs a policy change, which slows it in both camps. § 5.3²

Illustrative report05

OR scheduling concepts · Executive reportTop line 4

Top line 4 of 4

Each side misreads what the other wants

¹ Q8. Which concept do you think most surgeons, or most administrators, would rank first? Single select, n = 200.

² Committee membership by role is in the appendix tables.

After ranking, each respondent guessed the other group’s first choice. Only 23% of administrators guessed the self-scheduling app; 56% guessed block release, their own favorite¹. Surgeons did better, with 38% naming block release. On each side the most common guess is that side’s own favorite, and duration prediction, the pick they share, draws under a fifth of the guesses on either side.

23%n = 90

of administrators guessed the surgeons’ first choice

56%n = 90

of administrators guessed their own favorite

38%n = 110

of surgeons guessed the administrators’ first choice

41%n = 110

of surgeons guessed their own favorite

Guessing the other group’s first choice

Administrators’ guess of the surgeons’ first choice (n = 90)

Surgeons’ guess of the administrators’ first choice (n = 110)

Right guess of the other side, by role

Guess asked after each respondent’s own ranking, single select among the eight concepts. A right guess names the other group’s most common first choice.

Supporting evidence

Administrators who sit on the OR committee with surgeons guess better than those who sit apart. § 6.2
Duration prediction is the third guess on both sides: neither group sees it as the other’s favorite. § 6.3²

Illustrative report06

Top line 1 of 4 · page 03Illustrative report · top line 1 of 4 · swipeIllustrative report

Question 1 · First choices

Each group puts a different concept first.

41% of surgeons rank a self-scheduling app first, and 38% of administrators rank automatic release of unused block time first. Neither group puts the other’s favorite in its own top three.

41%surgeons put the app first

38%administrators put block release first

First choice among eight concepts · n = 110 vs n = 90

Question 1 · Common ground

Case duration prediction is the one shared pick.

Case duration prediction sits in the top three for 58% of surgeons and 71% of administrators, 64% overall. It is the only concept in both groups’ top three.

Case duration prediction64%

Self-scheduling app50%

Automatic block release45%

Ranked in the top three of eight · n = 200

Question 2 · Adoption timing

Administrators would adopt duration prediction soonest.

50% of administrators expect their hospital to adopt case duration prediction within a year, ahead of block release (41%) and the self-scheduling app (18%). Block release waits on a change to block policy.

Case duration prediction50%

Automatic block release41%

Self-scheduling app18%

Administrators expecting adoption within a year · n = 90

Question 3 · The disagreement

Each side misreads what the other wants.

Only 23% of administrators guessed that surgeons would put the self-scheduling app first; most guessed block release, their own favorite. Surgeons did better: 38% guessed the administrators’ first choice.

23%administrators correct

38%surgeons correct

Right guess of the other group’s first choice · n = 90 vs n = 110

“Tell me how long the case before mine will actually run, and I can plan my day. That helps me and the front office at the same time.”

Surgeon · Illustrative quote

Illustrative quotes

Three themes behind the numbers.

Own time

“I want to book my own cases from my phone the way I book a flight. Calling the scheduler three times is how I lose a morning.”

Surgeon

Idle rooms

“Every unused block that sits empty until the day before is a room I pay to staff and can’t fill.”

Perioperative services director

Shared ground

“Better case length estimates help everyone. Surgeons stop running late, and I stop paying overtime for it.”

OR business manager

What the medtech company did

Three moves made with the report.

1The build · from finding 2

Led next year’s build with duration prediction.

The one concept in both groups’ top three, for 64% of respondents, now leads the build, ahead of either group’s own favorite.

2The rollout · from finding 3

Planned the launch around administrators’ timing.

With half of administrators expecting adoption within a year, the first release targets hospitals planning OR software spend in the coming budget.

3The sales story · from finding 4

Showed each side the other’s ranking.

Each sales deck shows administrators what surgeons ranked first, and surgeons what administrators did, since most on each side guessed wrong.

Illustrative example. The company, scenario, and all figures are fictional. They show UserCue’s method and deliverable format. They do not come from any client study.

Bring us your next product question.

A senior researcher designs and presents every study.

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Acceptance study

How the study ran, start to finish.

1Kickoff

Eight concepts, budget for one.

Which of our eight OR scheduling concepts should we build first? The kickoff turned it into three questions: what surgeons and administrators rank highest, how soon hospitals would adopt each favorite, and where the two groups part ways.

2Design

Two OR roles, eight concepts ranked.

The screener took surgeons who hold weekly block time and administrators who run the OR schedule or its budget: 110 surgeons, 90 administrators. Each respondent ranked all eight concepts, then guessed which concept the other group would put first.

3Fielding

200 OR leaders, in their own words.

Both groups chose voice or text, quant and qual together, median 32 minutes; a follow-up asked what would stop each top pick in their own OR. The researcher read all 238 and removed 38 for contradictions and surgeons without block time, leaving 200.

4Analysis

One concept made both top-three lists.

The researcher set the surgeons’ and administrators’ rankings side by side: their favorites differ, a self-scheduling app against automatic release of unused block time. Only case duration prediction sits in both top threes, for 58% of surgeons and 71% of administrators.

5Readout

Duration prediction is top three for 64%.

The researcher opened the product team’s live readout with each side’s guess of the other’s favorite, then every concept’s rank by role and the adoption timing, in a 38-page report with the full data file. Next year’s build now starts with case duration prediction.

Four findings from the report.

Summary

OR scheduling concepts · Executive reportTop line 1

Top line 1 of 4

Each group puts a different concept first

¹ Q7. Rank these eight scheduling concepts from the one your hospital most needs to the least. Full ranking, n = 200.

² Concept descriptions, one screen of equal length each, are in the appendix.

41%n = 110

of surgeons rank the self-scheduling app first

38%n = 90

of administrators rank block release first

7thof 8

the app’s place among administrators

8thof 8

block release’s place among surgeons

First choice among eight concepts, by role

First choice, surgeons (n = 110)

First choice, administrators (n = 90)

Ranked sixth to eighth by administrators (n = 90)

1Pre-op readiness tracking
2Self-scheduling app
3Add-on case queue

Full ranking of eight concepts, shown in rotated order. Base n = 200: 110 surgeons and 90 administrators.

Supporting evidence

Surgeons tie the self-scheduling app to control over their own block time. § 3.2
Administrators tie block release to filling idle rooms, which they are measured on. § 3.3²

Illustrative report03

OR scheduling concepts · Executive reportTop line 2

Top line 2 of 4

Case duration prediction is the one shared pick

¹ Top-three share from the full ranking, n = 200; 110 surgeons and 90 administrators.

² Overruns are self-reported cases running past their booked time; see the appendix.

64%n = 200

rank case duration prediction in their top three

58%n = 110

of surgeons rank it top three

71%n = 90

of administrators rank it top three

1of 8

concept in both groups’ top three

Share ranking each concept in their top three

In the top three of eight (n = 200)

Top three concepts, surgeons (n = 110)

1Self-scheduling app
2Case duration prediction
3Live OR status board

Top three concepts, administrators (n = 90)

1Automatic block release
2Case duration prediction
3Turnover time tracker

Share placing each concept first, second or third in a full ranking of eight; shares add to 300 across concepts. The other three concepts each fall lower.

Supporting evidence

Duration prediction is the second choice in both groups, behind each group’s own favorite. § 4.2
Surgeons with the most overruns rank duration prediction higher than any other subgroup. § 4.3²

Illustrative report04

OR scheduling concepts · Executive reportTop line 3

Top line 3 of 4

Administrators would adopt duration prediction soonest

¹ Q18. When would your hospital be likely to adopt each of these tools? Single select per concept, administrators, n = 90.

² Q9. Would block release need a change to your block policy first? Single select, n = 200.

50%n = 90

expect to adopt case duration prediction within a year

41%n = 90

expect to adopt block release within a year

18%n = 90

expect to adopt the self-scheduling app within a year

71%n = 90

say block release needs a policy change first

Expected adoption timing, four leading concepts

Expect adoption within a year, administrators (n = 90)

When administrators expect duration prediction (n = 90)

Within a yearOne to two yearsLater or never

Block release needs a policy change first

Adoption timing asked of administrators only, since they run the OR schedule or its budget. Single select per concept; shares rounded.

Supporting evidence

Administrators say duration prediction fits the scheduling software they already run, which shortens the path to purchase. § 5.2
Most surgeons agree block release needs a policy change, which slows it in both camps. § 5.3²

Illustrative report05

OR scheduling concepts · Executive reportTop line 4

Top line 4 of 4

Each side misreads what the other wants

¹ Q8. Which concept do you think most surgeons, or most administrators, would rank first? Single select, n = 200.

² Committee membership by role is in the appendix tables.

23%n = 90

of administrators guessed the surgeons’ first choice

56%n = 90

of administrators guessed their own favorite

38%n = 110

of surgeons guessed the administrators’ first choice

41%n = 110

of surgeons guessed their own favorite

Guessing the other group’s first choice

Administrators’ guess of the surgeons’ first choice (n = 90)

Surgeons’ guess of the administrators’ first choice (n = 110)

Right guess of the other side, by role

Guess asked after each respondent’s own ranking, single select among the eight concepts. A right guess names the other group’s most common first choice.

Supporting evidence

Administrators who sit on the OR committee with surgeons guess better than those who sit apart. § 6.2
Duration prediction is the third guess on both sides: neither group sees it as the other’s favorite. § 6.3²

Illustrative report06

Top line 1 of 4 · page 03Illustrative report · top line 1 of 4 · swipeIllustrative report

Question 1 · First choices

Each group puts a different concept first.

41% of surgeons rank a self-scheduling app first, and 38% of administrators rank automatic release of unused block time first. Neither group puts the other’s favorite in its own top three.

41%surgeons put the app first

38%administrators put block release first

First choice among eight concepts · n = 110 vs n = 90

Question 1 · Common ground

Case duration prediction is the one shared pick.

Case duration prediction sits in the top three for 58% of surgeons and 71% of administrators, 64% overall. It is the only concept in both groups’ top three.

Case duration prediction64%

Self-scheduling app50%

Automatic block release45%

Ranked in the top three of eight · n = 200

Question 2 · Adoption timing

Administrators would adopt duration prediction soonest.

Case duration prediction50%

Automatic block release41%

Self-scheduling app18%

Administrators expecting adoption within a year · n = 90

Question 3 · The disagreement

Each side misreads what the other wants.

23%administrators correct

38%surgeons correct

Right guess of the other group’s first choice · n = 90 vs n = 110

Three themes behind the numbers.

Own time

“I want to book my own cases from my phone the way I book a flight. Calling the scheduler three times is how I lose a morning.”

Surgeon

Idle rooms

“Every unused block that sits empty until the day before is a room I pay to staff and can’t fill.”

Perioperative services director

Shared ground

“Better case length estimates help everyone. Surgeons stop running late, and I stop paying overtime for it.”

OR business manager

Three moves made with the report.

1The build · from finding 2

Led next year’s build with duration prediction.

The one concept in both groups’ top three, for 64% of respondents, now leads the build, ahead of either group’s own favorite.

2The rollout · from finding 3

Planned the launch around administrators’ timing.

With half of administrators expecting adoption within a year, the first release targets hospitals planning OR software spend in the coming budget.

3The sales story · from finding 4

Showed each side the other’s ranking.

Each sales deck shows administrators what surgeons ranked first, and surgeons what administrators did, since most on each side guessed wrong.

Illustrative example. The company, scenario, and all figures are fictional. They show UserCue’s method and deliverable format. They do not come from any client study.

Which of eight operating room tools should be built first?

Which of the eight concepts do surgeons and administrators rank highest?

How soon would hospitals adopt the leading concepts?

Where do the two groups disagree?

How the study ran, start to finish.

Eight concepts, budget for one.

Two OR roles, eight concepts ranked.

200 OR leaders, in their own words.

One concept made both top-three lists.

Duration prediction is top three for 64%.

Four findings from the report.

Each group puts a different concept first.

Case duration prediction is the one shared pick.

Administrators would adopt duration prediction soonest.

Each side misreads what the other wants.

Three themes behind the numbers.

Three moves made with the report.

Led next year’s build with duration prediction.

Planned the launch around administrators’ timing.

Showed each side the other’s ranking.

Bring us your next product question.

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Hospital Infusion Pump Choice

Which of eight operating room tools should be built first?

Which of the eight concepts do surgeons and administrators rank highest?

How soon would hospitals adopt the leading concepts?

Where do the two groups disagree?

How the study ran, start to finish.

Eight concepts, budget for one.

Two OR roles, eight concepts ranked.

200 OR leaders, in their own words.

One concept made both top-three lists.

Duration prediction is top three for 64%.

Four findings from the report.

Each group puts a different concept first.

Case duration prediction is the one shared pick.

Administrators would adopt duration prediction soonest.

Each side misreads what the other wants.

Three themes behind the numbers.

Three moves made with the report.

Led next year’s build with duration prediction.

Planned the launch around administrators’ timing.

Showed each side the other’s ranking.

Bring us your next product question.

Home Medical Device Experience

Dental Equipment Buyer Segmentation

Hospital Infusion Pump Choice