Question

Following a series of complaints from the Emergency Department about the length of turnaround time (TAT) for STAT testing, your manager asks that you investigate the complaints. 1. Once you have collected the data, what tool(s)/analysis would you perform to determine if there is a problem and why? 2. Once you have identified a problem, develop a PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) process to address the problem.

Answer 1

1. Once you have collected the data, what tool(s)/analysis would you perform to determine if there is a problem and why?

Interview

This tool is great if you can meet the clients or family members who use emergency department fecilities during their stay at the hospital. As them subjective questions to identify how happy are they about the turnaround time of STAT tests.

Feedback form

Have a look at feedbacks provided by the family or clients themselves to collect data about their experience.

2. Once you have identified a problem, develop a PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) process to address the problem.

it is comprised of planning, doing, checking and acting

• The process starts with a phase of planning where problems are clearly identified and assessed.
• A theory of improvement is highly recommended
• Potential solutions are initiated at this phase
• Then the outcome is evaluated and cross checked
• Check again to confirm it's accuracy
• Actions are implimented