Innovation, Automation and Informatics Improves Quality in Lerdsin Hospital, Thailand

Br J Biomed Sci. 2023 Jun 19;80:11532. doi: 10.3389/bjbs.2023.11532. eCollection 2023.ABSTRACTThis paper describes a planned, continuous improvement journey, of a laboratory that has installed a system with a single sample touch from blood draw to result. To achieve this, physical connectivity of systems from phlebotomy through pre-analytical to the analytical phase were paired with informatics connectivity from the patient's national identity card to the hospital and laboratory informatics management systems (LIMS) and associated middleware. This allowed accurate time stamps to track turnaround time (TAT). TAT metrics were collected from the LIMS for inpatient, emergency room and outpatient samples and tests over a period of 7 months. This time span incorporated the 2-month period before automation was implemented. The results for all tests and specific tests are shown and the results of an analysis of the outpatient phlebotomy workflow are given. The implemented solution has improved outpatient TAT by over 54% and has shown that samples can be collected, and results obtained without touching the sample. Improving intra-laboratory TAT is an important quality goal for all laboratories. The implementation of automation is important in achieving this albeit more about obtaining predictable TAT. Automation does not necessarily improve TAT it removes variation which leads to predictable TAT (PTAT). Automation should only be considered with a strategic vision for the future as it ...
Source: British Journal of Biomedical Science - Category: Laboratory Medicine Authors: Source Type: research