Reducing Wait Time in a High-volume Pediatric Neuro-oncology Clinic by Optimizing Process Flow: A Quality Improvement Project.

Autor:	Vinitsky A; Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN., David B; Surgical Services, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN., Michalik L; Center for Advanced Practice, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN., Ramirez N; Center for Advanced Practice, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN., Risinger A; Ambulatory Operations, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN., Burlison JD; Department of Pharmaceutical Science, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN., Zanders J; Ambulatory Operations, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN., Mans B; Inpatient Units, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN., Heady K; Outpatient Clinics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN., Holdiness J; Nursing Administration, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN., Qaddoumi I; Global Pediatric Medicine, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN., Robinson GW; Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN., Moreira D; Global Pediatric Medicine, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN., Upadhyaya SA; Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN., Gajjar A; Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN.
Jazyk:	angličtina
Zdroj:	Pediatric quality & safety [Pediatr Qual Saf] 2022 Jun 14; Vol. 7 (3), pp. e557. Date of Electronic Publication: 2022 Jun 14 (Print Publication: 2022).
DOI:	10.1097/pq9.0000000000000557
Abstrakt:	Introduction: Hospital wait time (WT) influences healthcare quality and patient satisfaction. Long WTs are distressful for patients and considered substandard healthcare delivery. Pediatric hematology/oncology patients with complex medical conditions frequently need multiple appointments in a day, making their scheduling very challenging. Here, we report a quality improvement (QI) project aimed to decrease the percentage of patients waiting >30 minutes before room placement in the neuro-oncology clinic. Methods: We measured WT from when the patient reported to the clinic (or, for those arriving early, from scheduled appointment) to when the patient got an exam room. We collected data by random sampling and collected baseline data over the initial 4 weeks; generated process mapping and Pareto charts to identify reasons for delayed patient placement in rooms; and used iterative Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles to test interventions. We used Run charts and Shewhart charts for data analysis. Results: Our baseline data analyses showed provider and room availability as critical reasons for delayed room placement (38.4% and 30%, respectively). We also completed related PDSA improvement cycles. The median percent of patients waiting >30 minutes decreased from 21% to 13%. The median average waiting time decreased from 21 to 11 minutes. Conclusion: Using structured QI methodology, we decreased the percent of patients waiting >30 minutes before room placement and overall WTs. We developed a strategy for continuous improvement and future interventions. Furthermore, our results suggest that QI projects, which account for the complexity of hospital systems, can improve patient flow throughout the hospital. (Copyright © 2022 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)
Databáze:	MEDLINE
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