Authors (including presenting author) :
Ma KMM, Lam MK
Affiliation :
K18 Renal Unit, Queen Mary Hospital
Introduction :
There is a huge number of printed laboratory reports in renal day centres. These printouts are manually allocated to different renal day centres – haemodialysis (HD) day centre, peritoneal dialysis (PD) day centre and renal transplant unit. Doctors have to prescribe treatment orders and nursing staff will have to document the follow up actions for any abnormal blood findings.
To reduce the huge number of paper consumption of printouts, as well as to close the loop of results screening management with follow up actions. The electronic laboratory results screening program was piloted in May 2024 in renal HD day centre and now implemented in both PD day centre and renal transplant unit.
Objectives :
1. To reduce huge number of paper consumption of laboratory reports
2. To close the loop of result acknowledgment and follow up actions
3. To reduce nursing time for manually allocate laboratory printouts to different renal day centres and in searching for patient folders to document treatment orders and follow up actions
4. To reduce risk of overlooking and misplaced laboratory results
Methodology :
To identify clinic codes to switch to electronic laboratory results screening and to apply the access right for all renal staff. Pilot program of electronic results screening was implemented in HD day centre. Feedbacks from doctors and nursing staff for improvement measures after started electronic results screening for one month in HD centre. Electronic results screening are now implementing in both PD day centre and renal transplant unit.
Result & Outcome :
It has reduced nursing time (5 - 30 minutes per day for 10 - 30 patient folders) in searching for patient folders for cases required early attention and documentation of treatment orders and follow up actions.
Risk of overlooking or misplace results due to misidentification is minimized as feedbacks from doctors and nursing staff. No incident related to laboratory result occurred since the implementation of this program which greatly enhanced patient safety.
Reduction of paper consumption was noted. Approximately there are over 150 HD patients, 300 PD patients and over 400 renal transplant patients in QMH who required routine blood test before each follow up, a huge reduction of paper consumption was encountered.
Positive users experience from doctors, nurses, as well as supporting staff was shared. All of them were satisfied with this program as it is efficient, convenient and save up time for filing.
Electronic results screening program greatly improves workflows of laboratory results screening and in saving staff time as well as benefits to environmental protection.
