[Histonet] Re: Logging in same type specimens consecutively

[m.mihalik <@t> comcast.net]

I'd like to comment on this issue if I could, but everyone please be aware of my perspective as an information systems provider.

We spend a LOT of time IN labs, not in offices.  This issue comes up quite often.  Everyone should be applauded for their efforts at patient quality and 'doing the right thing', but I would assert that with the proper procedures and information system support, that this policy is not as necessary as it used to be.

IF you have a system where you can accession a sample ONE at a time by scanning the bar code on the requisition which  immediately prints a specimen label with a bar code, which is immeditately applied to the specimen then you have positively and uniquely id'd the specimen.  Follow that up with bar coded blocks, which are then scanned to produce the applicable bar coded slide labels (again, done one case at a time -- scanned block, slide labels printed at the cutting station, labels applied to the slide).  Finally, when the pathologist or cytotechnologist gets the slide, they scan the slide barcode to enter the results and see the history on the patient.

The key to the entire process is accessioning one case at a time and once that is done, because of all the barcodes, all the other error points are reduced.


...at least that's my thinking.  I'm curious what you all think.

Mike Mihalik
PathView Systems

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: "Horn, Hazel V" <HornHV <@t> archildrens.org> 

> Actually this is exactly what we do. Each biopsy case is put in 
> colored cassettes and that color is dictated by our resident. At the 
> microtome we use the same color slides as the cassette color. We 
> rotate the colors with each case all day long during accessioning. 
> 
> Hazel Horn 
> Hazel Horn, HT/HTL (ASCP) 
> Supervisor of Histology 
> Arkansas Children's Hospital 
> 800 Marshall Slot 820 
> Little Rock, AR 72202 
> 
> phone 501.364.4240 
> fax 501.364.3155 
> 
> visit us on the web at: www.archildrens.org 
> 
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu 
> [mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Robert 
> Richmond 
> Sent: Friday, June 13, 2008 10:32 AM 
> To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu 
> Subject: [Histonet] Re: Logging in same type specimens consecutively 
> 
> Avoid logging in specimens of the same type (prostate, breast, colon 
> biopsies for example) consecutively. If it can't be avoided (say you 
> get four stereotactic breast biopsy specimens at the end of the day) 
> then go ahead and number them consecutively. 
> 
> I did some work at a specialty prostate lab a few years ago, and they 
> took extraordinary care to distinguish their specimens. Ten different 
> colors of cassettes, ten different colors of slides, and several other 
> things. Multiple colors of cassettes are easily available at no 
> additional cost (except the increase in inventory), and they're 
> greatly underutilized by pathology services. 
> 
> Bob Richmond 
> Samurai Pathologist 
> Knoxville TN 
> 
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