LynchOur Infusion patients need to have their CBC/manual diff and CMP results prior to receiving their treatments. Our patients start in Phlebotomy, and then go to wait in the Infusion waiting room, waiting for their lab results prior to receiving any treatments. We switched tube type from serum gel to plasma gel for our chemistry samples. This eliminated waiting for clotting of sample. Adopted the use of STAT spin centrifuges to reduce the specimen centrifugation time. New lab order status (ASAP) created for our Infusion patients. Blue specimen transport bag introduced to assist with triaging the patient samples from phlebotomy. Created a draw station in the Infusion department. We added a second Chemistry analyzer and a second Hematology analyzer with an automatic stainer in the main lab. Introduced specimen triaging at the analyzers to expedite the testing of Infusion specimens. Hematology analyzer for "Blast" classification was adjusted. Increased staff resources, moving staff and training staff to areas needed. We worked with our Bone Marrow lab staff to increase expertise for abnormal differentials. Creating a satellite lab in the Infusion department to run Hematology and Chemistry samples for our Infusion patients helped to expedite the results. We revised reporting algorithms to expedite the release of results where additional manual differential review would not change the results. We worked with Infusion clinic to reduce calls to the lab for results. We worked as a team, including input from all areas involved: Phlebotomy, Nursing, Infusion clinic, Central Processing, Core lab staff, Information Technology, and Laboratory Management to decrease our TAT.
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