Surgeons’ non-technical skills significantly enhance operating room efficiency.

• A one-point increase in NOTSS scores correlates with a 28.1% increase in on-time first case starts.
• Each score point leads to a 22.1% improvement in actual vs. expected operation length.
• It also results in a 74.8% increase in cases turning over within expected time.

Improving communication and planning can directly impact surgical performance and outcomes.

• Themes: preoperative planning, effective cues for operation transitions, and debriefing practices are critical for efficiency.