Bente M de Kok1, Bram Eijlers2, M Christien van der Linden3, Henriette M E Quarles van Ufford2. 1. Department of Radiology, Haaglanden Medical Center, Lijnbaan 32, 2512, VA, The Hague, The Netherlands. bentedekok@hotmail.com. 2. Department of Radiology, Haaglanden Medical Center, Lijnbaan 32, 2512, VA, The Hague, The Netherlands. 3. Clinical Epidemiology, Haaglanden Medical Center, The Hague, The Netherlands.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Emergency departments (EDs) worldwide face crowding, which negatively affects patient care. Diagnostic imaging plays a major role in management of ED patients and contributes to patients' length of stay at the ED. In this study, the impact of Lean-driven interventions on the imaging process at the ED was assessed. METHODS: During a 6-month multimodal intervention period, Lean-driven interventions and a dedicated radiologist present at the ED were implemented during peak hours (12 a.m.-8 p.m.). Data concerning patient population, radiology department turnaround time (RDTT), radiology report time (RRT), and examination time (ET) for ED patients were compared with a control period of 6 months 1 year earlier. RESULTS: RDTT, RRT, and ET were significantly shorter in the intervention period compared with those in the control period. Median RDTT was respectively 36 min (interquartile range (IQR) 24-56) and 70 min (IQR 39-127), RRT 11 min (IQR 6-21) and 37 min (IQR 15-88), and ET 22 min (IQR 14-35) and 23 min (14-38). CONCLUSION: Lean-driven interventions on the imaging process at the ED significantly reduced RDTT, RRT, and ET.
PURPOSE: Emergency departments (EDs) worldwide face crowding, which negatively affects patient care. Diagnostic imaging plays a major role in management of ED patients and contributes to patients' length of stay at the ED. In this study, the impact of Lean-driven interventions on the imaging process at the ED was assessed. METHODS: During a 6-month multimodal intervention period, Lean-driven interventions and a dedicated radiologist present at the ED were implemented during peak hours (12 a.m.-8 p.m.). Data concerning patient population, radiology department turnaround time (RDTT), radiology report time (RRT), and examination time (ET) for ED patients were compared with a control period of 6 months 1 year earlier. RESULTS: RDTT, RRT, and ET were significantly shorter in the intervention period compared with those in the control period. Median RDTT was respectively 36 min (interquartile range (IQR) 24-56) and 70 min (IQR 39-127), RRT 11 min (IQR 6-21) and 37 min (IQR 15-88), and ET 22 min (IQR 14-35) and 23 min (14-38). CONCLUSION: Lean-driven interventions on the imaging process at the ED significantly reduced RDTT, RRT, and ET.
Authors: Eveline A Hitti; Ghada R El-Eid; Hani Tamim; Rana Saleh; Miriam Saliba; Lena Naffaa Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2017-09-05 Impact factor: 2.655