Six Sima Case Study

olutions can now begin to be generated. A problem faced daily within the HSHS-EWD prior authorization and radiology departments is orders for diagnostic testing like ultrasounds, CT scans, MRI, and PET scans being ordered incorrectly. When an order is placed it is scheduled as is, and then drops into the prior authorization work queue. An authorization is obtained prior to the scheduled appointment. The system works well, until an order is placed incorrectly and changes need to be made. This results in a delay of patient care, increased expenses due to staff time and resources, increase in appointments being cancelled and rescheduled, decreased productivity in the radiology department, and an overall decrease in patient satisfaction. Typically, the day before a procedure is scheduled the technologist review the orders with the radiologist. If a test does not meet certain imaging criteria and guidelines the doctor’s …show more content…
It was determined that several doctors are still ordering test on paper and not using the electronic resources allotted to them. As a result, nurses are guessing at the appropriate contrast required for the examination. In an article published in the International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance they looked at decreasing medical diagnostic imagine errors using the Six Sima methodology. One of the focuses was the lack of physician knowledge and competency. The study discovered that orders written on paper caused an increase in wait times and delays in diagnosis due to not being able to properly read the order. (Taner, Sezen, Atwat 274-290). The next contributor is that doctors are placing unspecific orders. For example, they are ordering a CT scan of the chest but not specifying if it is to be with or without contrast. When the nurses contact the scheduling department, they are often guessing at the contrast requirements. This leads to an increase of incorrect