title: [Audit of histopathology activities at the pathology departments of 7 general hospitals. 2. Response time].
abstract: A retrospective analysis of 1,000 consecutive cases was conducted in each histopathology lab of seven general hospitals. The collected information included the date of specimen withdrawal (six labs only), receipt in the laboratory, and reporting. Time intervals between withdrawal and receipt. Two labs, received 3/4 of cases the same day, while the others had a very low prevalence of receipt. All labs but one, received 80-90% of cases within 48 hours. In one lab, 17% of cases arrived five days after from the withdrawal. Time intervals between receipt and reporting. The mean observed in the seven labs ranged from 3.1 to 6.1 days. Two labs were able to report within 24 hours, but this occurred only in 6% of their cases. The reporting prevalence within three days ranged between 5 and 64%, with a mean for the seven labs of 37%. The reporting prevalence within 6 days was about 95% (four labs), 60-70% (two labs) and 20% (one lab). All labs but one reported 95-100% of cases within ten days. Time intervals between withdrawal and reporting. Our labs were not able to report within 24 hours from the withdrawal (frozen sections excluded). The reporting prevalence within 2-3 days was about 35-40% (three labs), 16% (one lab), 2% (two labs), and within six days it was about 90% (three labs), and 61%, 38% and 14% (the remaining). These latter reported 95% of their cases within twenty days. The turnaround times we found are unsatisfactory. Probably, there are many sources of delay, and these are multifactorial. However, a major factor involved in these delays seems to be related to poor arrangements in the allocation and managing of human resources.
authors.affiliation: Servizio di Anatomia e Istologia Patologica, Ospedale Civile, Asti.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Andrion
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gaglio
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Langè
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giudici
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Grasso
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amore
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bondi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cristofori
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Pezzotta
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bellomi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Anghinoni
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Barbazza
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Magnani
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ciccone
mesh_terms: D006769:Hospitals, General; D007558:Italy; D010336:Pathology / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010337:Pathology Department, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
vernacular_title: Audit dell'attività istopatologica nei servizi di sette ospedali generali. 2. Tempi di risposta.