title: Customising turnaround time indicators to requesting clinician: a 10-year study through balanced scorecard indicators.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study is, first to present a 10-year monitoring of postanalytical turnaround time (TAT) adapted to different clinicians and patient situations, second to evaluate and analyse the indicators results during that period of time, and finally to show a synthetic appropriate indicator to be included in the balanced scorecard management system.
  
  
  METHODS
  TAT indicator for routine samples was devised as the percentage of certain key tests that were verified before a specific time on the phlebotomy day. A weighted mean synthetic indicator was also designed. They were calculated for inpatients at 15:00 and 12:00 and for primary care patients only at 15:00. The troponin TAT of emergency department patients, calculated as the difference between the troponin verification and registration time, was selected as the stat laboratory TAT indicator.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The routine and stat TAT improved along the 10-year study period. The synthetic indicator showed the same trend.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The implementation of systematic and continuous monitoring over years, promoted a continuous improvement in TAT which will probably benefit patient outcome and safety.
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Salinas
authors: Maite
authors: M
authors: López-Garrigós
authors: Ana
authors: A
authors: Santo-Quiles
authors: Mercedes
authors: M
authors: Gutierrez
authors: Javier
authors: J
authors: Lugo
authors: Rosa
authors: R
authors: Lillo
authors: Carlos
authors: C
authors: Leiva-Salinas
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D007755:Laboratories, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D010338:Pathology, Clinical / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D058996:Quality Improvement / Q000458:organization & administration; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D013997:Time Factors; D013996:Time and Motion Studies; D014336:Troponin / Q000097:blood*; D057188:Workflow
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014336:Troponin