title: Specimen processing: centralized or decentralized?
abstract: Specimen processing for the clinical laboratories of a large pediatric teaching hospital laboratory was centralized in 1991. A highly efficient service area evolved through reengineering and renovations and effected a 20% reduction in operating costs. Work flow analysis identified areas for improvements, renovations created a more efficient use of space, and staffing decreased from 18.4 to 8.5 FTEs without compromising service.
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Cortizas
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shea
mesh_terms: D002497:Centralized Hospital Services; D002648:Child; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D017721:Hospital Costs; D006754:Hospital Restructuring; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007374:Interior Design and Furnishings; D007755:Laboratories, Hospital / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008331:Management Information Systems; D008404:Massachusetts; D017146:Models, Organizational; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D000078329:Workforce