Assignment Instructions: The Case Of The Belated Lab Tests

Assignment Instructions The Case of the Belated Lab Tests Performance Im

Assignment Instructions The Case of the Belated Lab Tests Performance Improvement Opportunity – Part 2 CAHIIM Competency Assessed: Subdomain III.H. Information Integrity and Data Quality 3. Apply quality management tools Subdomain VI.C. Work Design and Process Improvement 1. Analyze workflow processes and responsibilities to meet organizational needs (Blooms 4) 2. Construct performance management measures (Blooms 6) 3. Demonstrate workflow concepts (Blooms 3) Part 1: Create a flowchart (See Lesson) of the process that was discussed in the first meeting (see packet 1) to illustrate the workflow that is currently being used. This will help the team decide where there may be problems in the current workflow. Part 2: The following information was extracted from the floor secretary logs from the past week. · A total of 3622 tests were done and 589 were over the standards for turnaround time · The breakdown by urgency is as follows: · Of 459 STATs, 77 were over standard · Of 1042 Urgents, 334 were over standard · Of 2121 Routines, 178 were over standard You want to bring a graph of this data for the next team meeting. NOTE: Your Excel table might look something like this in order to make a graph that will be valuable. URGENT ROUTINE STAT TOTAL Number > Standard % of Total > Standard 57% 30% 13% 100% Cumulative % of Total 57% 87% 100% TASKS: 1. Create a graph, using Excel, depicting the data above. Analyze this data once your graph is made. What conclusions can be drawn? Write a short summary of what the graph is telling you. Decide! Does the team have enough data? Brainstorm a list of the data you would like to have. Where would you get that data? Submit a short list of your brainstorm ideas and explain what you would discuss with the team regarding gathering more data.

Paper For Above instruction

The process of evaluating laboratory turnaround times is crucial to enhancing operational efficiency and ensuring patient care quality. This assignment involves creating a workflow flowchart to visualize current procedures, analyzing recent data on test turnaround times, and proposing strategies for data collection to support continuous improvement.

The first step involves drafting a detailed flowchart of the existing workflow. This visual representation clarifies each step—from test order entry to the reporting of results—and identifies potential bottlenecks or inefficiencies. By examining this process, the team can pinpoint specific areas for improvement, such as delays in sample processing or reporting. The flowchart serves as a foundation for applying quality management tools, aligning with the CAHIIM subdomains of information integrity and work process optimization.

The second part of this task revolves around analyzing recent data extracted from secretary logs. Out of 3,622 tests performed, 589 exceeded the accepted turnaround times, indicating a significant area for investigation. Breaking down the data by urgency reveals that among 459 STAT tests, 77 were delayed beyond standards; of 1,042 urgent tests, 334 were delayed; and of 2,121 routine tests, 178 were delayed. This data suggests that the majority of delays, especially in the urgent categories, warrant a closer review.

Using Excel, a graph depicting these proportions can visually communicate the extent of delays across categories. A bar chart or pie chart can effectively illustrate the percentage of tests over standard turnaround times within each urgency group. Once the graph is constructed, analyzing the visual data reveals important insights. For instance, the high percentage of delayed urgent tests (around 32%) compared to routine tests (about 8%) indicates that urgent cases are more vulnerable to delays, which could significantly impact patient outcomes.

The analysis underscores that the team has substantial data, yet further data collection is necessary for a comprehensive understanding. To deepen the analysis, a brainstorm list of additional data points is essential. These might include timestamps for each process step, staffing levels during different shifts, equipment status reports, and specific reasons for delays. Gaining access to electronic health records, lab information systems, or process logs would be avenues to gather such data.

Discussing with the team the importance of continuous data collection aligns with quality improvement principles. Emphasizing targeted data gathering allows for more precise process interventions, such as reallocating resources or modifying workflows to reduce delays. Ultimately, combining visual data analyses with detailed process data empowers the team to develop targeted strategies that improve turnaround times, thus enhancing patient care and operational efficiency.

References

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