This is why we start the time when we actually receive the specimen in hand. Maria
-----Original Message----- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Weems, Joyce Sent: Tuesday, June 23, 2009 1:12 PM To: Della Speranza, Vinnie; histonet Subject: RE: [Histonet] tracking turnaround time of intraoperative consultations We track from time of receipt. One way you could track from time of order is if the specimen is ordered electronically. We have that set up for some of our units - a requisition is ordered with time of order, etc. But we couldn't get it working in the OR - not enough people and printers at ready access.. Best, j Joyce Weems Pathology Manager Saint Joseph's Hospital 5665 Peachtree Dunwoody Rd NE Atlanta, GA 30342 678-843-7376 - Phone 678-843-7831 - Fax -----Original Message----- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Della Speranza, Vinnie Sent: Tuesday, June 23, 2009 16:02 To: histonet Subject: [Histonet] tracking turnaround time of intraoperative consultations CAP utilizes the term "intraoperative consultation" to describe the utilization of frozen (cryo) sections to provide a rapid diagnosis back to a surgeon in the operating room. The CAP checklist requires a turnaround time of 20 minutes for single specimen submitted for intraoperative consultation. My understanding is that the turnaround time is measured from the time the sample is received in the laboratory until the time the report is issued to the surgeon. Is anyone tracking or measuring turnaround time from the time the consult is "ordered" in/by the Operating Room until the time the result is issued? If so, would you share how you are able to determine the time the "test was ordered" and to what extent you have elicited the cooperation of Operating Room personnel. We receive many complex surgical cases and our intraoperative consults frequently consist of multiple surgical samples from the same patient arriving in the lab at the same time. Our head and neck cases, for example, consist of 6-8 biopsies that are sent to pathology at the same time. In this example, we have no knowledge of which biopsies was excised first or last and because the surgeon chooses to allow multiple samples to accumulate before sending them all off to the lab, it's clear that the true "pre-analytical" time will not be the same for each sample. If you are tracking turnaround from the time of order to the time of result reporting, how are you determining what is an acceptable turnaround time? CAP's standard is the only national standard I am aware of for frozen section turnaround times. Vinnie Della Speranza Manager for Anatomic Pathology Services Medical University of South Carolina 165 Ashley Avenue Suite 309 Charleston, South Carolina 29425 Tel: (843) 792-6353 Fax: (843) 792-8974 _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet Confidentiality Notice: This email, including any attachments is the property of Catholic Health East and is intended for the sole use of the intended recipient(s). It may contain information that is privileged and confidential. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure, or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please reply to the sender that you have received the message in error, then delete this message. _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet Notice from St.Joseph Health System: Please note that the information contained in this message may be privileged and confidential and protected from disclosure. _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet