Computerised pathology test order entry reduces laboratory turnaround times and influences tests ordered by hospital clinicians: a controlled before and after study

Objective: To assess the impact of a computerised pathology order entry system on laboratory turnaround times and test ordering within a teaching hospital. Methods: A controlled before and after study compared test assays ordered from 11 wards two months before (n = 97 851) and after (n = 113 762) t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of clinical pathology 2006-05, Vol.59 (5), p.533-536
Main Authors: Westbrook, J I, Georgiou, A, Dimos, A, Germanos, T
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Chi-Square Distribution
Clinical Laboratory Information Systems
Clinical Laboratory Techniques
evaluation
Hospitals, Teaching
Humans
Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects)
Laboratories, Hospital
Medical Records Systems, Computerized
Medical sciences
Original
outcome assessment
pathology order entry
Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques
POE
Time Management
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Summary:Objective: To assess the impact of a computerised pathology order entry system on laboratory turnaround times and test ordering within a teaching hospital. Methods: A controlled before and after study compared test assays ordered from 11 wards two months before (n = 97 851) and after (n = 113 762) the implementation of a computerised pathology order entry system (Cerner Millennium Powerchart). Comparisons were made of laboratory turnaround times, frequency of tests ordered and specimens taken, proportions of patients having tests, average number per patient, and percentage of gentamicin and vancomycin specimens labelled as random. Results: Intervention wards experienced an average decrease in turnaround of 15.5 minutes/test assay (range 73.8 to 58.3 minutes; p
ISSN:0021-9746
1472-4146
DOI:10.1136/jcp.2005.029983