A-227 Breaking Barriers in Laboratory Efficiency: A PDCA-Driven Approach to Fasting Emergency Testing

Abstract Background This study aims to improve the turnaround time of stat biochemistry laboratory testing, especially the 30-minute reporting time for emergency patients. In July 2019, we upgraded the stat instrument from Vitros 5600 to the Roche cobas 8000 system.However, despite the upgrade, the turnaround time for emergency patients remained below the 80% threshold. To address this issue, we implemented two PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) cycles between 2021 and 2023 to improve timeliness performance. Methods PDCA cycle Results The PDCA process plays a crucial role in optimizing the efficiency of biochemistry laboratory testing. The first PDCA cycle identified key factors contributing to delays in emergency biochemistry reporting, including an increased specimen load leading to instrument overload, delayed sample processing, and slow report transmission. To address these challenges, we implemented several improvement measures, such as upgrading instruments, reallocating instrument performance, enabling autoverification of reports, and enhancing connection software. These improvements led to a significant enhancement in timeliness in 2022, with the achievement rate for 30-minute reporting increasing by 5.2%. The second PDCA cycle focused on optimizing the sample transmission process, particularly during peak periods following weekends and holidays when sample volume surged. As a result, by the end of 2022, the 30-minute reporting timeliness had improved to 84.7%. Additionally, robots were introduced to assist with sample transportation, further enhancing the efficiency. Conclusion In conclusion, after implementing two PDCA cycles, the 30-minute reporting rate for emergency biochemistry tests consistently remained above 80% on a monthly basis. However, future improvements are still needed, particularly in enhancing instrument performance, optimizing internal connection software, and streamlining hospital ward sampling and transmission process to achieve even better outcome.