[Histonet] Benchmarking information

Sat Feb 16 15:27:06 CST 2013

it was just an example of process mapping and the like- the stainer is inconsequential really. There are a lot of options for ideas, just a quick suggestion for some graphics and numbers. Benchmarking is a start, to me that is all in improvement.   I do not have any affiliation with ventana or any other vendor.But of course vendors are going to propagate information and articles that depict their products in the best light.  As always just trying to add what my experience has been , if people dislike or disagree they can disregard

Joelle Weaver MAOM, HTL (ASCP) QIHC
 Date: Sat, 16 Feb 2013 07:54:38 -0800
From: rjbuesa <@t> yahoo.com
Subject: Re: [Histonet] Benchmarking information
To: joelleweaver <@t> hotmail.com; sheila.tapper <@t> essentiahealth.org; histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu

I feel the "urge" of commenting on this advise about how to determine a benchmark for a histology lab.

1- I agree that you should first know your lab and how long it takes for your techs to complete the work-flow from receiving the specimens to reporting the final diagnosis BUT
2- if you just stop at that point you will be unable to determine if you have a problem. Finding problems and developing solutions can only be achieved if you COMPARE your lab to others and how efficient you are, how your TAT in each step of the process compares with with other labs of the same size (similar workload, staff and technology).
3- unless you compare you cannot develop strategies to do at least as well as others do.
4- to achieve the comparison objective you have to have information about other labs and you can only find about that if you hire a consultant (very expensive) or if you reffer yourself to published information. I think that you will find useful some articles I have written on the subject and that you can find at http://www.histosearch.com/rene.html

Finally, the article you have been referred to (http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6890/10/2) in its original version was a propaganda for the VentanaSymphony autostainer and had to be rewritten to achieve its present form. Essentially lacks the information you need (no offense intended, just the facts from my point of view).
René J.

From: joelle weaver <joelleweaver <@t> hotmail.com>
To: sheila.tapper <@t> essentiahealth.org; histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu 
Sent: Friday, February 15, 2013 5:09 PM
Subject: RE: [Histonet] Benchmarking information

The best option is your own process mapping and time studies of these processes working in your own lab environment. It is usually easiest if you intially break it down into the preanalyic, analytic and post
 analytic phases and the critical variables that reduce your delivery times or contribute to impact each of the bottlenecks/delays/errors/ problems, in each phasse,  and then put these in problem statements in your  LSS project charters. It gets convoluted if you put them all in one, so I think it is best if you find one that you can target as a "quick win" and use the momentum from this for further projects. Do a detailed "as is process" map  from your current data and then work on streamlining by elimination of those items to build a more standardized and improved " how you want it to be" process map. This becomes your SOP more or less for the new procedure.  I know you wanted numbers, but I guess I feel your own numbers are going to be a lot more useful.  However, there are a few references out there that are pretty detailed and are more or less case studies that have some numerical data. For example-The combined positive
 impact of Lean methodology and Ventana Symphony autostainer on histology lab workflow-  http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6890/10/2 This article may give you some ideas to get started. 

Joelle Weaver MAOM, HTL (ASCP) QIHC
> Date: Wed, 13 Feb 2013 11:45:27 -0600
> From: Sheila.Tapper <@t> essentiahealth.org
> To: histonet <@t> lists.utsouthwestern.edu
> Subject: [Histonet] Benchmarking information
> 
> We are working on a Lean/SixSigma project in our Histology Lab to
> decrease our TAT for pathology reports.  Part of this process is to
> break down the total time and look at the different stages of the
> process to help identify where waste in the process is, such
 as:
> 
> *    Time from receipt in lab to delivery of slides to pathologists 
> *    Time special stains are ordered to delivery of slides to
> pathologists  
> *    Etc. 
> 
> Does anyone have any benchmarking information out there to share on
> this?  Any help is appreciated.  
> 
>  
> 
> _________________________________________________
> 
> Sheila Tapper
> Anatomic Pathology Supervisor
> Essentia Health
> SMDC Laboratory
> Pathology 3W SMMC
> 407 East Third Street, Duluth, MN 55805
> P: 218-786-5472 | F: 218-786-2369
> 
> sheila.tapper <@t> essentiahealth.org
> 
>  
> 
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