A modified Delphi methodology to conduct a failure modes effects analysis: a patient-centric effort in a clinical medical laboratory.

In this article, we describe the use of an information-gathering tool, the Delphi technique, to overcome issues encountered when conducting a failure modes effects analysis as part of a define, measure, analyze, implement, control study to improve the processes of a clinical medical laboratory. The study was conducted with the goals of reducing medical errors in the total testing process (TTP) in order to improve patient safety, patient satisfaction, and improve the overall quality of the health care services provided by the subject hospital while meeting its Joint Commission (JC) accreditation requirements. The study found that the Delphi technique was very useful in overcoming 4 barriers encountered in conducting a failure modes effects analysis in a hospital's clinical medical laboratory and in achieving those goals.