Title : Reducing wait times for red blood cells in outpatient Infusion center
Abstract:
Oncology and hematology patients require high volumes of red blood cell transfusions. At our organization, there were 3,960 units of RBC transfused. This accounts for almost 25% of our total outpatient infusion volume. Data from our patient engagement survey – which reflects their infusion experience - indicated that there was patient dissatisfaction with the wait times that accompanied the type and cross-matching process and the overall time patients spent at the center to receive a transfusion. Previously, the average time for type and cross match to availability of the first unit of PRBC is approximately 76 minutes. A collaboration between Transfusion Medicine, NYP Information Technology, and Nursing were initiated. Discussions focused on how this identified wait time could be reduced to create a more positive patient experience whilst ensuring the quality and safety of the processes involved. The organization invested in a remote refrigerator that could allocate the right blood product when needed with a shorter turnaround time. The collaboration between Nursing, IT, and Transfusion Medicine also included the development and launching of a communication dashboard to optimize real-time interaction between Nursing and Transfusion Medicine. The results yielded that the average wait time post-intervention was 36.8 minutes. Additionally, there was verbalization from stakeholders that less clinical time was spent by nursing and medical providers in placing orders, Transfusion medicine personnel time in issuing products, and increased patient satisfaction.
The focus of this presentation will be on how collaboration between nursing and other identified partners is able to control and monitor access of PRBCs, implement a process that is visible and traceable, and eliminates the need for lengthy cross-matching and labeling of products. The new intervention reduced the wait time from patient arrival to PRBC availability to approximate implementation allowing the center to treat more patients in a timely manner and allowing them to stay on schedule with their oncology treatment. The ability to accommodate increased volumes also allows patients with transfusion-dependent disorders to be accommodated on the schedule in a timely manner thus avoiding visits to the Emergency Department.
This collaboration is a great representation of the increased use of technology in improving the patient experience, and nursing workflow and automatized and computerization makes errors less likely, thus increasing patient safety.
