Utilization of an automated multiphasic health testing system for performing prehospitalization examinations.
Various impacts of performing prehospitalization examinations (of elective surgical patients) by utilizing automated multiphasic screening technology were evaluated. Compared to the conventional way of conducting such examinations (in the concerned health care organization) the automated system was found to be more efficient (results were available earlier, in a more complete and convenient format), saved considerable time to patients and resulted in a shorter average hospital (postoperative) stay, suggesting that the automated technology is also cost effective. Postoperative stay was reduced by 20 per cent (1.8 days) in the group of patients who undertook the automated multiphasic testing, as compared to a similar group of patients who performed the required tests in the conventional way. Possible explanations for this finding are discussed.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003933:Diagnosis; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine; D004526:Efficiency; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009098:Multiphasic Screening; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative; D013997:Time Factors