Our LIS specialists built a template into the pathologist screen for each case where they simply check off the boxes of the IHC they want on a case. It took them a little while to get used to not using post it notes for their orders but once they got used to it, they like it. It only takes them a second or two to check what they want. Once they click the "send order" box, the order goes directly to the IHC worksheet for that day. When the stains are done and the qc tech scans their bar codes, the "finished cases" icon will appear in the pathologists queue. The interface itself saves us tech time since most pathologist are going to simply fill in a form or use a post it to convey their orders. A tech then has to enter this info into a worksheet and into the Bond prior to running the IHC.
We built our lab (only opened since Jan 19, 2010) and equipped it based on LEAN processes. In some areas the LIS supported LEAN, in other areas we needed to use work arounds (like connecting each slide and cassette labeler to it's own CPU so that to the system, they appear as another printer with an IP address). I am a firm believer that any lab (brand new or a retrofit) can be adapted to LEAN through process changes, equipment adaptations, and/or using existing software more fully. Steve -----Original Message----- From: Rathborne, Toni [mailto:trathbo...@somerset-healthcare.com] Sent: Friday, October 22, 2010 1:57 PM To: Feher, Stephen; Akemi Allison; Walter Benton Cc: Histonet Subject: RE: [Histonet] Clarification-interfacing the IHC bond andCassettelabelers to Co-Path I'd be interested in knowing how this has impacted your pathologists. Were they resistant at first? The extra time inputting requests would now fall on them. And there is still a chance of keystroke errors with pathologist entry. I'm not disagreeing with the comments you made, only wondering since you were able to save .7 FTE, where the .7 pathologist came from. Or is it the interface itself that saves the time, and not who enters it? Also, did you have the slide printers before the LEAN process was implemented? or was it done because of LEAN and is part of the FTE savings? I'm very interested in this process, but know the types of questions I'll need to have answers for. We're a Cerner facility, so some things will be different but the principal will be the same. Toni -----Original Message----- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu]on Behalf Of Feher, Stephen Sent: Friday, October 22, 2010 1:32 PM To: Akemi Allison; Walter Benton Cc: Histonet Subject: RE: [Histonet] Clarification-interfacing the IHC bond andCassettelabelers to Co-Path We have interfaced our Bonds with Soft Path LIS system. My justification for this started with using it for LEAN processes in that the orders for IHC went directly from the Pathologist to the Bond and eliminated the need for my techs to have to input individual orders for IHC by hand. Since we have set up our slide labelers to be recognized as just another printer as far as the LIS is concerned, we do not use paper labels at all but have 2d barcodes printed directly on our slides. When an order is put in by the pathologist for IHC, my techs can see the order, cut the section and print the slide with the correct bar code. Bond recognizes the barcode and initializes the tests that have been ordered and transferred from the pathologist. This has accomplished the following: No tech time lost in printing labels for slides to go on the bond. No ambiguity or lost IHC orders due to hand writing orders by the pathologist. No chance of keystroke errors on the part of my IHC tech while putting manual orders into the Bond. In addition to eliminating hand writing and manual keystrokes, which are distinct patient safety issue, I have calculated that having the interface has saved me approximately 0.7 FTE. Instead of having to hire extra staff to cover increased workloads or wasting existing staff on extraneous tasks (hand labeling, manually entering orders, etc), I can utilize them in other areas. The patient safety aspect of eliminating extra tasks involving manual data entry is huge. A majority of the lawsuits against pathology labs involve some aspect of human error resulting from manual tasks in labeling or data entry. In addition to being able to market my lab as patient safety focused, we have eliminated a major source of potential lawsuits. It's hard to put a price tag on what that saves other than to say that the costs are sometimes much more than the dollar figures paid out. Steve -----Original Message----- From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Akemi Allison Sent: Thursday, October 21, 2010 4:01 PM To: Walter Benton Cc: Histonet Subject: Re: [Histonet] Clarification-interfacing the IHC bond and Cassettelabelers to Co-Path Hi Walter and Histo-subscribers, Ist I want to thank Walter for his quick reply. I appreciate your answer! 2nd, I appreciate any and all replies, but does anyone have an "article" that addresses issues that can occur such as: Efficiency Omitting Duplication of Tests ordered: Additional Slides, Special Stains, IHC, FISH, CISH, Cost effectiveness due to omission of errors Patient Safety Thanks Akemi Allison BS, HT (ASCP) HTL Director Phoenix Lab Consulting Tele: 408.335.9994 E-Mail: akemiat3...@yahoo.com On Oct 21, 2010, at 11:38 AM, Walter Benton wrote: > Efficiency > Patient Safety > Orders for the Bond come directly from the LIS and can not be > misunderstood due to poor handwriting, since they are interfaced with > the LIS. > > > Walter Benton HT(ASCP)QIHC > Histology Supervisor > Chesapeake Urology Associates > 806 Landmark Drive, Suite 126 > (All Deliveries to Suite 127) > Glen Burnie, MD 21061 > 443-471-5850 (Direct) > 410-768-5961 (Lab) > 410-768-5965 (Fax) > wben...@cua.md > ________________________________________ > From: histonet-boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu [histonet- > boun...@lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Akemi Allison > [akemiat3...@yahoo.com] > Sent: Thursday, October 21, 2010 2:33 PM > To: Histonet > Subject: [Histonet] interfacing the IHC bond and Cassette labelers to > Co-Path > > Hi out there in Histo Land! > > I would like your assistance in answering a question that was proposed > by a friend who is not a histonet member. I don't have the answer, > but know that one of you would. Below is the question: > > Could you help me justify the importance of interfacing our IHC bond > and Cassette labelers to Co-Path? A simple paragraph, or if you have, > a white paper, that would be great. I am attempting to get the > interfaces approved through our IT Department and running up against > some roadblocks. > > Thank you in advance for your assistance, > > Akemi Allison BS, HT (ASCP) HTL > Director > Phoenix Lab Consulting > Tele: 408.335.9994 > E-Mail: akemiat3...@yahoo.com > > _______________________________________________ > Histonet mailing list > Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu > http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet _______________________________________________ Histonet mailing list Histonet@lists.utsouthwestern.edu http://lists.utsouthwestern.edu/mailman/listinfo/histonet CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE This message and any included attachments are from Somerset Medical Center and are intended only for the addressee. 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