Journal article
Low-cost workflow improvement reduces gastrointestinal block use 17% by altering classic histotechnology testing
American journal of clinical pathology, Vol.143(6), pp.861-864
06/2015
DOI: 10.1309/AJCP3YSXDK9JJFMN
PMID: 25972328
Abstract
Gastrointestinal (GI) biopsy specimens were previously limited to four per cassette to facilitate established internal technical work practices and histotechnology best practice guidelines. We evaluated the workflow of these biopsy specimens.
We implemented three specific changes: (1) up to 10 GI biopsy specimens could be placed in each cassette, (2) histotechnologists would no longer orient GI biopsy specimens, and (3) embedding would be in a straight line rather than diagonal. We evaluated the effects of these changes on total block numbers, quality of slides, and perceptions of staff.
The mean number of cassettes used was reduced 17% for GI biopsy cases, or an overall decrease of 3% of total blocks processed by our histopathology laboratory. Slide quality was unchanged. Staff reported increased job satisfaction.
This simple, low-cost, low-effort process change yielded immediate and significant time savings for grossing and histology staff, increased job satisfaction, and challenges conventional histotechnology teaching.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Low-cost workflow improvement reduces gastrointestinal block use 17% by altering classic histotechnology testing
- Creators
- Bryan Steussy - From the Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa CityMichael Gailey - From the Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa CityKent Becker - From the Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa CityEmily Fuller - From the Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa CityMelissa Jans - From the Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa CitySue Lewis - From the Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa CityLeana Guerin - From the Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa CityPatricia Kirby - From the Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa CityRobert Robinson - From the Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City. robert-a-robinson@uiowa.edu
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- American journal of clinical pathology, Vol.143(6), pp.861-864
- Publisher
- England
- DOI
- 10.1309/AJCP3YSXDK9JJFMN
- PMID
- 25972328
- ISSN
- 0002-9173
- eISSN
- 1943-7722
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 06/2015
- Academic Unit
- Oral Pathology, Radiology and Medicine; Pathology
- Record Identifier
- 9984046825402771
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