Puja Kumari Jha, Rachna Agarwal, Rafat Sultana Ahmed,
Volume 15, Issue 6 (11-2021)
Abstract
Background and objectives: Turnaround time (TAT) is an important quality indicator for benchmarking laboratory performance. Delay in TAT may affect patient safety; thus, continuous monitoring and analysis of laboratory workflow is mandatory. This study was designed to improve the TAT of two biochemistry laboratories serving in tertiary care teaching hospitals (multispecialty and super-specialty) through the application of quality tools namely quality failure reporting, the Fishbone model, and process mapping.
Methods: First, TAT was defined for routine (four hours) and urgent samples (two hours). Then, TAT failureincidents in 2018-2019 were analyzed using the Fishbone model. The process map of TAT was studied and made more value streamed and lean after removal of waste steps.Corrective action plans were prioritized and implemented for potential causes with more adverse outcomes. Pilot solutions were implemented for six months and TAT failures incidents were reanalyzed.
Results: The quality failure in TAT reporting was reduced by 22% (from 34% to 12%) for urgent samples and by 19% (from 27% to 8%) for routine samples after the implementation of quality tools in multispecialty hospital laboratory. In the super-specialty hospital laboratory, the improvement was more profound and the TAT percentage achieved after the corrective actions was 96.57% and 98% for urgent and routine samples, respectively.
Conclusion: Implementation of quality failure reporting culture along with quality tools led to significant improvement in TAT and higher quality laboratory performance in terms of efficiency, reliability, and increased patient safety.
Smita Bhide, Dr. Rupali Lahane,
Volume 18, Issue 1 (1-2024)
Abstract
Background: Gastrointestinal tract complaints are prevalent among individuals in rural settings, encompassing all age groups. This study aimed to examine histopathological lesions in the upper gastrointestinal tract through endoscopic biopsy and determine the frequency of various upper gastrointestinal lesions in relation to age, sex, and site.
Methods: The specimens included in our study comprise endoscopic biopsies of the upper gastrointestinal tract during October 2018 to October 2020. A total of 70 biopsies from the upper gastrointestinal tract were analyzed using endoscopy. All specimens were fixed in 10% formalin and processed following routine hematoxylin and eosin (HE) examination. Special stains were employed when necessary.
Results: Among the 70 upper gastrointestinal endoscopic biopsies studied during this period, 25 (35.71%) were from the esophagus, 35 (50.0%) were from the stomach, and 10 (14.29%) were from the duodenum. Of the 70 upper gastrointestinal endoscopic biopsies, 34 displayed inflammatory lesions, while 36 exhibited neoplastic lesions. There was a male predominance among the cases examined. Non-neoplastic lesions were observed in individuals aged from the second to the fifth decade, while neoplastic lesions were more prevalent in older age groups.
Conclusion: This research highlights the stomach as the predominant location for inflammatory and neoplastic lesions in the upper gastrointestinal tract. The study reveals a notable occurrence of gastric carcinoma among malignant upper gastrointestinal lesions. Thus, early detection and management of upper gastrointestinal lesions necessitate endoscopy and subsequent histopathological evaluation.
