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Monitoring and Eliminating Pre-Analytic Laboratory Errors in an Acute Care Setup - A Case Study

Received: 1 April 2024     Accepted: 19 April 2024     Published: 29 November 2024
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Abstract

Laboratory investigations are an integral part of patient management. The number and frequency of investigations are directly related to the clinical seriousness of a patient. Hence acute care setups observe a high volume as well as frequency of sampling for laboratory analyses. Many management plans are dependent on the results of these investigations. So, there is also pressure on the pathology laboratory to provide the results as early as possible. The whole process of lab investigation requires ordering an investigation, sending the requisition/system indenture, sampling, transporting sample to the lab, analysing, result approval and sending/uploading the report. Well-planned, tried, and tested standards/ protocols must be in place in order to eliminate the probability of errors in investigation reports. Laboratories must work according to some set specifications in order to process the samples in an error free manner. This paper will analyse the procedural steps, scope of errors and steps to identify, report as well as rectify the errors in the pre-analytical phase of laboratory investigations in a highly demanding and accident-prone acute care setup. The aim of this exercise is to improve the quality of lab reporting process with an objective to eliminate pre analytic laboratory errors.

Published in American Journal of Laboratory Medicine (Volume 9, Issue 5)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajlm.20240905.11
Page(s) 50-57
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Laboratory Investigations, Patient Management, Sampling, Pre-Analytical Phase

References
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[3] Gupta, Rajiv, Session 6: Module 3: Understanding Waste, Lecture Notes, HHSM ZG615 Service Quality Excellence in Healthcare, BITS Pilani, delivered 17th Feb 2023.
[4] Institute for Healthcare Improvement, All FMEA Tools, AllTools.aspx (accessed August 9, 2015)
[5] Graban, Mark. (2016). Lean Hospitals: Improving Quality, Patient Safety, and Employee Engagement. CRC Press Taylor & Francis Group.
[6] Womack, J. P., Jones, D. T., & Roos, D. (1990). The Machine That Changed the World: The Story of Lean Production. Free Press.
[7] Shingo, S. (1986). Zero Quality Control: Source Inspection and the Poka-Yoke System. Productivity Press.
[8] Radnor, Z., Holweg, M., & Waring, J. (2012). Lean in healthcare: The unfilled promise? Social Science & Medicine, 74(3), 364-371.
[9] Rother, M., & Shook, J. (1999). Learning to See: Value Stream Mapping to Add Value and Eliminate MUDA. The Lean Enterprise Institute.
[10] Kenney, C., & Florida, R. (2004). Locating Global Advantage: Industry Dynamics in the International Economy. Stanford University Press.
[11] Toussaint, J. S., & Berry, L. L. (2013). The Promise of Lean in Health Care. Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 88(1), 74-82.
[12] NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement. (2007). The Lean Experience: A Story of Continuous Improvement.
[13] Graban, M. (2012). Lean Hospitals: Improving Quality, Patient Safety, and Employee Engagement (2nd ed.). CRC Press.
[14] Womack, J. P., & Jones, D. T. (2003). Lean Thinking: Banish Waste and Create Wealth in Your Corporation. Free Press.
[15] Radnor, Z. J., Holweg, M., & Waring, J. (2012). Lean in healthcare: The unfilled promise? Social Science & Medicine, 74(3), 364-371.
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  • APA Style

    Rizvi, M. A., Nisa, Z. (2024). Monitoring and Eliminating Pre-Analytic Laboratory Errors in an Acute Care Setup - A Case Study. American Journal of Laboratory Medicine, 9(5), 50-57. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajlm.20240905.11

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    ACS Style

    Rizvi, M. A.; Nisa, Z. Monitoring and Eliminating Pre-Analytic Laboratory Errors in an Acute Care Setup - A Case Study. Am. J. Lab. Med. 2024, 9(5), 50-57. doi: 10.11648/j.ajlm.20240905.11

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    AMA Style

    Rizvi MA, Nisa Z. Monitoring and Eliminating Pre-Analytic Laboratory Errors in an Acute Care Setup - A Case Study. Am J Lab Med. 2024;9(5):50-57. doi: 10.11648/j.ajlm.20240905.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajlm.20240905.11,
      author = {Muneel Abbas Rizvi and Zaibun Nisa},
      title = {Monitoring and Eliminating Pre-Analytic Laboratory Errors in an Acute Care Setup - A Case Study
    },
      journal = {American Journal of Laboratory Medicine},
      volume = {9},
      number = {5},
      pages = {50-57},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajlm.20240905.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajlm.20240905.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajlm.20240905.11},
      abstract = {Laboratory investigations are an integral part of patient management. The number and frequency of investigations are directly related to the clinical seriousness of a patient. Hence acute care setups observe a high volume as well as frequency of sampling for laboratory analyses. Many management plans are dependent on the results of these investigations. So, there is also pressure on the pathology laboratory to provide the results as early as possible. The whole process of lab investigation requires ordering an investigation, sending the requisition/system indenture, sampling, transporting sample to the lab, analysing, result approval and sending/uploading the report. Well-planned, tried, and tested standards/ protocols must be in place in order to eliminate the probability of errors in investigation reports. Laboratories must work according to some set specifications in order to process the samples in an error free manner. This paper will analyse the procedural steps, scope of errors and steps to identify, report as well as rectify the errors in the pre-analytical phase of laboratory investigations in a highly demanding and accident-prone acute care setup. The aim of this exercise is to improve the quality of lab reporting process with an objective to eliminate pre analytic laboratory errors.
    },
     year = {2024}
    }
    

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    AB  - Laboratory investigations are an integral part of patient management. The number and frequency of investigations are directly related to the clinical seriousness of a patient. Hence acute care setups observe a high volume as well as frequency of sampling for laboratory analyses. Many management plans are dependent on the results of these investigations. So, there is also pressure on the pathology laboratory to provide the results as early as possible. The whole process of lab investigation requires ordering an investigation, sending the requisition/system indenture, sampling, transporting sample to the lab, analysing, result approval and sending/uploading the report. Well-planned, tried, and tested standards/ protocols must be in place in order to eliminate the probability of errors in investigation reports. Laboratories must work according to some set specifications in order to process the samples in an error free manner. This paper will analyse the procedural steps, scope of errors and steps to identify, report as well as rectify the errors in the pre-analytical phase of laboratory investigations in a highly demanding and accident-prone acute care setup. The aim of this exercise is to improve the quality of lab reporting process with an objective to eliminate pre analytic laboratory errors.
    
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