Day 1 : Poster Presentations (Theme: Patient Safety)
Effective communication of critical test results among care givers; a step towards quality improvement & patient safety
Location
Auditorium Pond Side
Start Date
26-1-2013 10:30 AM
Abstract
Introduction: Critical laboratory results are signs of major perturbations of key physiologic systems. Critical values reporting are the mechanism by which potentially life-threatening laboratory results are reported to responsible healthcare professionals. Monitoring of reporting such results is an integral component of quality management system of a clinical laboratory. Finally, the aim is to best contribute to patient safety. Objective: To monitor the efficacy of critical test result reporting and review its outcome.
Methods: The study was conducted at the Section of Hematology of Clinical Laboratories of The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan. It was a retrospective study. Data of third quarter (July, August & September, 2012) was taken into consideration. Certain rules were designed with the help of information technology personnel and incorporated in the system. The rules were: 1. Critical tests and their ranges in the section of Hematology were identified. 2. Critical high and low values were incorporated in the system. 3. An icon of informing critical results was made available at the result entry option so that the proper documentation of informing the results should be possible. 4. The data incorporated in the system through that icon was compiled for monitoring of process.
Results: Results: In the third quarter of 2012, section of Hematology contributes 5.7% of total volume of clinical laboratory. Out of this 5.7% (109740 samples), 1591(1.44%) samples had critical results. The percentage of informing critical test results was 99.82% in July and 100% in both August and September which gave the average success figure of 99.94%.
Conclusions: By defining and monitoring the critical tests reporting, we were able to effectively communicate the critical test results to care givers hence contributing to improved patient care.
Key words: Effective Communication, Critical Results, Patient Safety
Effective communication of critical test results among care givers; a step towards quality improvement & patient safety
Auditorium Pond Side
Introduction: Critical laboratory results are signs of major perturbations of key physiologic systems. Critical values reporting are the mechanism by which potentially life-threatening laboratory results are reported to responsible healthcare professionals. Monitoring of reporting such results is an integral component of quality management system of a clinical laboratory. Finally, the aim is to best contribute to patient safety. Objective: To monitor the efficacy of critical test result reporting and review its outcome.
Methods: The study was conducted at the Section of Hematology of Clinical Laboratories of The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan. It was a retrospective study. Data of third quarter (July, August & September, 2012) was taken into consideration. Certain rules were designed with the help of information technology personnel and incorporated in the system. The rules were: 1. Critical tests and their ranges in the section of Hematology were identified. 2. Critical high and low values were incorporated in the system. 3. An icon of informing critical results was made available at the result entry option so that the proper documentation of informing the results should be possible. 4. The data incorporated in the system through that icon was compiled for monitoring of process.
Results: Results: In the third quarter of 2012, section of Hematology contributes 5.7% of total volume of clinical laboratory. Out of this 5.7% (109740 samples), 1591(1.44%) samples had critical results. The percentage of informing critical test results was 99.82% in July and 100% in both August and September which gave the average success figure of 99.94%.
Conclusions: By defining and monitoring the critical tests reporting, we were able to effectively communicate the critical test results to care givers hence contributing to improved patient care.
Key words: Effective Communication, Critical Results, Patient Safety