Physician Satisfaction and Emergency Department Laboratory Test Turnaround Time

TLDR

The study aimed to measure the time components of emergency department turnaround time and assess physician satisfaction with laboratory services. Researchers used College of American Pathologists Q‑Probes forms to conduct a self‑directed four‑week study, collecting timing data for ordering, specimen collection, laboratory receipt, and result reporting of stat potassium and hemoglobin tests, along with practice questions and physician satisfaction surveys from participating laboratories. Results from the turnaround time study and physician satisfaction surveys were returned by mail, involving 952 hospital laboratories enrolled in the 1998 Q‑Probes program. Additional metadata was included.

Abstract

Abstract Objectives.—To determine the length of time for the components of the emergency department (ED) turnaround time (TAT) study in 1998 and to ascertain physician satisfaction concerning laboratory services to the ED. Methods.—Using forms supplied by the College of American Pathologists Q-Probes program, participants conducted a self-directed study of ED TAT over a 4-week period. Data requested included various times of day associated with the ordering, specimen collection, laboratory receipt, and result-reporting stages of stat ED TATs for potassium and hemoglobin. Additionally, practice-related questions associated with the laboratory were asked. Participating laboratories also provided a physician satisfaction survey for up to 4 physicians who were users of ED services. Results of both the TAT study and the physician satisfaction survey were returned by mail. Participants were drawn from the 952 hospital laboratories enrolled in the 1998 College of American Pathologists Q-Probes study on ED TAT. T...