Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
Volume 106, Issue 7 , Pages 558-564 , 2007

Evaluation and Improvement Strategy of Analytical Turnaround Time in the Stat Laboratory

  • Tzu-I Chien

      Affiliations

    • Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 100, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Jin-Ying Lu

      Affiliations

    • Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 100, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Jau-Tsuen Kao

      Affiliations

    • Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 100, Taiwan
    • Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei 100, Taiwan
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorrespondence to: Professor Jau-Tsuen Kao, Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and Medical Biotechnology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, 7 Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei 100, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Ya-Chih Cheng

      Affiliations

    • Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 100, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Ya-Fen Lee

      Affiliations

    • Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 100, Taiwan

Received 5 September 2006 ,Revised 17 February 2007 ,Accepted 10 April 2007.

References 

  1. Fowler DG . Development of a computer simulation for laboratory planning . Clin Lab Sci . 1998;11:280–284
  2. Fleisher M , Schwartz MK . Automated approaches to rapid-response testing: a comparative evaluation of point-of-care and centralized laboratory testing . Am J Clin Pathol . 1995;104(Suppl 1):S18–S25
  3. Jacobs E , Laudin AG . The satellite laboratory and point-of-care testing: integration of information . Am J Clin Pathol . 1995;104(Suppl 1):S33–S39
  4. Castro HJ , Oropello JM , Halpern N . Point-of-care testing in the intensive care unit: the intensive care physician's perspective . Am J Clin Pathol . 1995;104(Suppl 1):S95–S99
  5. Ramirez O , Lawhon J . Quality management series: quality improvement team uses FOCUS–PDCA method to reduce laboratory stat volume and turnaround time . Clin Lab Manag Rev . 1994;2:130–141
  6. Inamura K , Umeda T , Harauchi H , et al.   Time and flow study results before and after installation of a hospital information system and radiology information system and before clinical use of a picture archiving and communication system . J Dig Imag . 1997;10:1–9
  7. Ratcliffe N , Blume C , John P , et al.   Shorter turn-around-time and improved patient care in peripheral blood progenitor cell collection procedures . J Clin Apheresis . 1999;14:35–41
  8. Kenagy JW , Berwick DM , Shore MF . Service quality in health care . JAMA . 1999;281:661–665
  9. Valenstein P . Laboratory turnaround time . Am J Clin Pathol . 1996;105:676–688
  10. Shewhart WA . Economic Control of Quality of Manufactured Product . New York: D. Van Nostrand; 1931;
  11. Hawker CD , Garr SB , Hamilton LT , et al.   Automated transport and sorting system in a large reference laboratory: part 1. Evaluation of needs and alternatives and development of a plan . Clin Chem . 2002;48:1751–1760
  12. Hawker CD , Roberts WL , Garr SB , et al.   Automated transport and sorting system in a large reference laboratory: part 2. Implementation of the system and performance measures over three years . Clin Chem . 2002;48:1761–1767
  13. Barnett RN . Medical significance of laboratory results . Am J Clin Pathol . 1968;50:671–676
  14. Howanitz P , Steindel S , Cembrowski G , Long T . Emergency department stat test turnaround times . Arch Pathol Lab Med . 1992;116:122–128
  15. Vacek JL . Classic Q wave myocardial infarction: aggressive, early intervention has dramatic results . Postgrad Med . 2002;112:71–77
  16. Montalescot G , Borentain M , Payot L , et al.   Early vs. late administration of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors in primary percutaneous coronary intervention of acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: a meta-analysis . JAMA . 2004;292:362–366
  17. Singer AJ , Ardise J , Gulla J , Cangro J . Point-of-care testing reduces length of stay in emergency department chest pain patients . Ann Emerg Med . 2005;45:587–591
  18. Keshgegian A , Bull G . Evaluation of a soft-handling computerized pneumatic tube specimen delivery system . Am J Clin Pathol . 1992;97:535–540
  19. Valenstein PN , Emancipator K . Sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility of four measures of laboratory turnaround time . Am J Clin Pathol . 1989;91:452–457
  20. Holland LL , Smith LL , Blick KE . Reducing laboratory turnaround time outliers reduces emergency department (ED) patient length of stay (LOS): an 11-hospital study . Am J Clin Pathol . 2005;124:672–674
  21. Steven JS , Peter JH . Physician satisfaction and emergency department laboratory test turnaround time . Arch Pathol Lab Med . 2001;125:863–871

 Tzu-I Chien and Jin-Ying Lu contributed equally to this work.

PII: S0929-6646(07)60006-0

doi: 10.1016/S0929-6646(07)60006-0

Journal of the Formosan Medical Association
Volume 106, Issue 7 , Pages 558-564 , 2007

Article Tools