title: Improving Reports Turnaround Time: An Essential Healthcare Quality Dimension.
abstract: Turnaround time is one of the most important healthcare performance indicators. King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia worked on reducing the reports turnaround time of the neurophysiology lab from more than two weeks to only five working days for 90% of cases. The main quality improvement methodology used was the FOCUS PDCA. Using root cause analysis, Pareto analysis and qualitative survey methods, the main factors contributing to the delay of turnaround time and the suggested improvement strategies were identified and implemented, through restructuring transcriptionists daily tasks, rescheduling physicians time and alerting for new reports, engaging consultants, consistent coordination and prioritizing critical reports. After implementation; 92% of reports are verified within 5 days compared to only 6% before implementation. 7% of reports were verified in 5 days to 2 weeks and only 1% of reports needed more than 2 weeks compared to 76% before implementation.
authors.affiliation: King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Parwaiz
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Khalid
authors.affiliation: King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Youssef
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Al-Said
authors.affiliation: King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cupler
authors.affiliation: King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Lamia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Almorsy
authors.affiliation: King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khalifa
mesh_terms: D006739:Hospital Administration / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007755:Laboratories, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D060891:Root Cause Analysis; D012529:Saudi Arabia; D013997:Time Factors