Healthcare costs in the United States continue to climb – and nowhere is that trend more visible than inside the operating room.

In 2023 alone, U.S. healthcare spending reached $4.9 trillion, growing 7.5% in a single year.

And surgical care plays a major role in that number.

Estimates suggest surgical care accounts for roughly 30% of overall healthcare spending and nearly half of hospital expenditures.

The operating room is not just a clinical environment.

It is also one of the most expensive places in modern medicine.

The Operating Room Is the Financial Engine of Hospitals

For most hospitals, the operating room is both a revenue generator and a cost center.

Operating rooms can account for around 40% of hospital costs while generating up to 60-70% of revenue.

That makes efficiency inside the OR critically important.

Because when costs rise in the operating room, the entire healthcare system feels it.

Every Minute in the OR Has a Price

Operating room time is one of the most expensive resources in the entire hospital system, and every additional minute spent in the OR carries measurable financial impact.

Multiple healthcare cost studies have attempted to quantify the price of operating room time, and while the exact number varies by hospital and procedure type, research analyzing hospital financial data estimates the average cost of operating room time to be roughly $36-$37 per minute.

Other analyses suggest the range can be even wider, with some hospitals reporting operating room costs between $22 and $133 per minute depending on staffing, technology, and case complexity.

When these numbers are considered across an entire surgical schedule, the costs compound quickly.

A case that runs longer than expected.
A delay in room turnover.
A late start to the surgical day.

Each additional minute introduces new labor costs, equipment utilization, and operational overhead.

Over the course of hundreds or thousands of procedures per year, even small inefficiencies inside the operating room can translate into hundreds of thousands – or even millions – of dollars in additional hospital spending.

This is why hospitals and surgical centers are increasingly focused on improving efficiency inside the OR, where small operational improvements can have an outsized impact on both costs and workflow.

Labor Is the Largest Expense

When people think about rising surgical costs, they often point to advanced technology – robotic systems, imaging equipment, or specialized implants. While these tools can be expensive, they are not the primary driver of operating room costs.

The largest expense in most operating rooms is labor.

Every surgical procedure requires a coordinated team that includes surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, surgical technologists, and support staff. These professionals bring years of training and expertise, and their time is essential for every case performed.

Because of this, staffing costs account for roughly two-thirds of the direct expenses associated with operating room care.

These costs are also closely tied to time. When procedures take longer than expected or schedules are delayed, hospitals incur additional labor costs as the entire surgical team remains engaged for longer periods.

As workforce shortages and compensation costs continue to rise across healthcare, improving efficiency in the operating room has become an increasingly important way for hospitals to control costs while maintaining high standards of care.

Surgical Supplies Add Up Faster Than Most People Realize

Beyond staffing, surgical supplies are another growing cost driver.

Hospitals spend tens of millions of dollars annually on medical and surgical supplies, with average hospital supply expenses exceeding $39 million per year.

Even relatively small items – gowns, drapes, and disposable materials – scale dramatically across thousands of procedures.

Multiply a small cost by every surgery performed in a hospital.

The numbers add up quickly.

Surgical Apparel Is One Area Hospitals Are Re-Evaluating

Surgical apparel is used in nearly every procedure performed in the operating room.

Which means even small improvements in efficiency, durability, and cost structure can have system-wide benefits.

Hospitals are increasingly looking for solutions that:

• Maintain strict sterility standards

• Improve workflow efficiency

• Reduce unnecessary supply costs

• Deliver consistent performance across high case volumes

Because in a system where every minute and every supply matters…

Better surgical apparel can make a measurable difference.

Learn More About StubMed Togas

At StubMed, we work with surgeons and surgical teams to develop solutions designed specifically for the demands of modern operating rooms.

Our TOGA systems are built to support efficiency, performance, and reliability in high-volume surgical environments.

If you’d like to learn more about how our products work – or request a trial for your facility – we’d be happy to connect.

Contact StubMed today to request more information or schedule a product trial.