Abstract: This article gives you important guidelines for the preparation of a research paper for publication in Research Publish Journals.Clinical laboratories play a vital role in patient diagnosis and management. However, blood specimens may be rejected for a variety of reasons, which may have substantial clinical consequences for patient safety. The quality team observed significant numbers of rejected samples from the surgical department and inpatient units due to hemolysis.
Methods: Retrospective study conducted at King Fahd Medical City, Riyadh, KSA, for six months' period; January 1, 2016 to June 1, 2016. Data were collected from Corttex (Health Care Operation System). The method was based on the FOCUS-PDCA quality improvement method focusing on the pre-analytical phase of the laboratory testing. The team identified pre-analytical errors as the primary reason for rejections. A multidisciplinary team was formed and tested several changes, including phlebotomy education, competency validation by direct observations, the use of appropriate consumables for sampling, and physician education for proper orders. All specimens sent for blood chemistry, arterial blood gas analysis, hematology, and coagulation tests were included. Microbiology test specimens and point-of-care testing samples were excluded.
Results: The data show that the rate of specimen rejection was high in the first three months of the year (Jan, Feb, and Mar) and duplicated test order was the commonest cause for rejection followed by cancelled specimens. which was a statistically significant reduction
Conclusions: Using FOCUS-PDCA Methodology we able to reduce the rate of rejected samples in Male Surgical wards 74.7% from the previous record. Moreover, the model shed the light on how crucial the pre-analytical phase for laboratory quality improvement process, its effect on cost reduction, and the importance of staff competency and utilization.
Keywords: Rejection, Male Surgical Wards, Phlebotomy, Corttex, Blood samples, FOCUS-PDCA Methodology.
Title: Reducing rejected blood samples project in male surgical wards using FOCUS-PDCA methodology
Author: Yasir A. Ahmed, Franklin Q. Lim, Nooralina B. Abdulhamid, Ayed Hamad Al-Anazi, Ahmed Dhahi Al-Enezi
International Journal of Healthcare Sciences
ISSN 2348-5728 (Online)
Research Publish Journals
