1. Lean-driven interventions, including a dedicated radiologist, improve diagnostic imaging turnaround time and radiology report time at the emergency department.
- Author
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de Kok BM, Eijlers B, van der Linden MC, and Quarles van Ufford HME
- Subjects
- Adult, Aged, Female, Humans, Length of Stay statistics & numerical data, Male, Middle Aged, Prospective Studies, Time Factors, Crowding, Emergency Service, Hospital organization & administration, Radiologists statistics & numerical data, Tomography, X-Ray Computed, Total Quality Management
- 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.
- Published
- 2021
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