Enhancement on safety handling of investigation reports in OLMH GOPD

Abstract Description

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Authors (including presenting author) :

Kong YW(1), Yiu CH(1), Chan TF(1), Ng ML(1), Wong WY(1), Li WS(2), Lau TT(1)

Affiliation :

(1)General Out-Patient Department, Our Lady of Marynoll Hospital (2)Department of Family Medicine and General Out-Patient Clinic, Kowloon Central Cluster

Introduction :

Clinical pathology tests are carried out on clinical specimens to obtain information about the health of a patient to aid in diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease. (Farr, J. 2004) The average number of patient attend for OLMH GOPC consultation is around 600 daily. On average, OLMH GOPC dealt with 800-1000 laboratory reports daily from Monday to Friday, about 50% of abnormal laboratory reports to be screened by family medicine clinic (FMC) doctors. Out of these abnormal reports, there were around 8% laboratory reports required to be call back for follow up action daily. A project on enhancement of safety handling of laboratory reports was implemented in July 2018. It is believed that a safe, systematic and standardize patient call back system can enhance clinical safety and quality patient care in GOPC.

Objectives :

1. To standardize and systematize the patient call back system. 2. To ensure all laboratory results are properly received and seen by doctors. 3. To ensure patients who need to be followed up are appropriately called for follow up action.

Methodology :

1. Clerical staff are responsible to distribute the laboratory reports according to the consultation room number instead of doctor’s name, thus reduce the handling time for laboratory reports. 2. Nurses are responsible to screen the laboratory reports according to the alert limit guideline after1630 from Monday to Friday, thus ensure all laboratory reports can be handled properly on the same day. 3. Doctors are responsible to screen the laboratory reports twice per day (0900 & 1630) instead of 1000 daily, thus the workload for screening laboratory reports can be dispersed.

Result & Outcome :

After enhancement on safety handling of investigation reports, the handling time of the reports was significantly reduced. It was noted that 90 minutes were shortened for distributing of the laboratory reports according to the consultation room number instead of doctor’s name. In addition, an evaluation was done in January 2019 for collecting feedback. It was distributed to 3 groups of staff including clerical staff, nursing staff and medical staff. First of all, feedback for distribution of laboratory reports according to the consultation room number instead of doctor’s name, there were 92% of them extremely agree or agree that it can reduce the handling time of laboratory reports. Secondly, 100% of them extremely agree or agree that using the call back chop to order follow up action after screening the laboratory reports can provide a clearer doctor’s instruction to colleagues. Communication between medical and nursing staff was strengthened as well. Thirdly, 71% of them extremely agree or agree that the laboratory reports to be screened twice per day can disperse workload of both medical staff and nursing staff. Hence, laboratory reports were handled in a more appropriate time. Fourthly, 73% of them extremely agree or agree that laboratory reports to be screened twice per day allow the flexibility of consultation time as a result of dispersing the workload. Fifthly, 100% of them extremely agree or agree that all abnormal laboratory reports can be managed properly after enhancement on the safety handling of investigation reports. Conclusion: In conclusion, OLMH GOPC staff show a very positive feedback towards the enhancement on the safety handling of investigation reports. Concise of the workflow for handling of laboratory reports ensure all laboratory reports are properly received and seen by doctors. Furthermore, a standardize and systematize patient call back system ensure patients who need to be followed up are appropriately called for follow up action. As a result, patient safety is much secured. Clinical safety and quality patient care in GOPC can be constantly improved.