[Histonet] Re: tracking turnaround time of intraoperative consultations

[Victor Tobias]

Vinnie,

We have always measured from the time the specimen is received in 
Pathology. Our frozen section room is adjacent to the OR.

Victor

Victor Tobias
Clinical Applications Analyst
University of Washington Medical Center
Dept of Pathology Room BB220
1959 NE Pacific
Seattle, WA 98195
victor <@t> pathology.washington.edu
206-598-2792
206-598-7659 Fax
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Della Speranza, Vinnie wrote:
> Thanks Dr. Richmond. CAP's turnaround time requirement for frozen sections is unchanged.
>
> My question was prompted by the fact that we have an individual internal to our organization pushing for measuring turnaround from time of order to time result is issued, which muddies the water, at least for us as we do not have electronic ordering from the OR. This is prompted by JCAHO's requirement that turnaround time for critical tests be measured (Frozen section is considered a critical test by this organization)
>
> As far as I know, there is no national standard to be met if one measures turnaround from time of order, so the data then is up to the institution's interpretation for what is acceptable. 
>
> One of the respondents indicated that they consider the time the sample gets to pathology as the time the test was ordered. Of those who responded to my query, one lab has electronic order entry and is just beginning to track both the in lab turnaround time and the time from order to result. 
>
> Vinnie Della Speranza
> Manager for Anatomic Pathology Services
> Medical University of South Carolina
> 165 Ashley Avenue  Suite 309
> Charleston, South Carolina 29425
> Tel: (843) 792-6353
> Fax: (843) 792-8974
>  
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu [mailto:histonet-bounces <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu] On Behalf Of Robert Richmond
> Sent: Wednesday, June 24, 2009 1:29 PM
> To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> Subject: [Histonet] Re: tracking turnaround time of intraoperative consultations
>
> Vinnie Della Speranza, Manager for Anatomic Pathology Services Medical
> University of South Carolina
> Charleston SC asks about tracking turnaround time of frozen sections (note
> that not every intraoperative consultation requires a frozen section).
>
> The few services I've worked on that attempted to track turnaround time
> timed them from time of receipt in the laboratory (using a time stamp for
> that) to telephoning the report (the pathologist had to write down the time
> on the hand-scribbled report). The prescribed maximum turnaround was 20
> minutes, which is pretty easy to meet. Cases with multiple frozen sections
> were not timed.
>
> Has there been some change in the CAP requirements for recording turnaround
> time of frozen sections in the last three years?
>
> Bob Richmond
> Samurai Pathologist
> Knoxville TN
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