Improving Workflow Efficiency in Interventional Radiology

Abstract

Late starts result in late finishes which creates inefficient workflow. The purpose of this quality-improvement project was to improve workflow efficiency in interventional radiology (IR) at the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System. Six articles reviewed for this project demonstrated underlying problems with workflow efficiency in procedural areas that should be addressed. Interventions including checklists, facilitators, reminder e-mails to staff, requiring staff to come in earlier, and reporting arrival times of staff to supervisors helped improve on-time starts and workflow efficiency. A preimplementation and postimplementation retrospective chart review was used to evaluate this project. Random samples of 200 charts were reviewed before and after implementation, to establish the percentage of on-time starts. All patient satisfaction surveys received during the 4 months were reviewed for response to the item “My procedure began at the time it was scheduled.” Percentage of on-time starts and percentage of patients scoring “agree” or “strongly agree” on the satisfaction survey were compared before and after implementation. On-time starts increased from 29% and 24% in the 2 months before implementation to 34% and 40% in the 2 months after implementation. The item scored on the satisfaction survey increased from 73% and 83% before implementation and to 93% and 100% after implementation. In conclusion, a comprehensive checklist and increased physician reminders of first-case starts sent via e-mail helped to improve on-time starts in IR and increase patient satisfaction.