Original scientific paper

https://doi.org/10.11613/BM.2016.010

Timeliness “at a glance”: assessing the turnaround time through the six sigma metrics

Cristiano Ialongo ; Laboratory Medicine Department, “Tor Vergata” University Hospital, Rome, Italy
Sergio Bernardini ; Laboratory Medicine Department, “Tor Vergata” University Hospital, Rome, Italy

Abstract

Almost thirty years of systematic analysis have proven the turnaround time to be a fundamental dimension for the clinical laboratory. Several indicators are to date available to assess and report quality with respect to timeliness, but they sometimes lack the communicative immediacy and accuracy. The six sigma is a paradigm developed within the industrial domain for assessing quality and addressing goal and issues. The sigma level computed through the Z-score method is a simple and straightforward tool which delivers quality by a universal dimensionless scale and allows to handle non-normal data. Herein we report our preliminary experience in using the sigma level to assess the change in urgent (STAT) test turnaround time due to the implementation of total automation. We found that the Z-score method is a valuable and easy to use method for assessing and communicating the quality level of laboratory timeliness, providing a good correspondence with the actual change in efficiency which was retrospectively observed.

Keywords

turnaround time; statistical data analysis; quality control; healthcare quality indicator; postanalytical phase

Hrčak ID:

153888

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/153888

Publication date:

15.2.2016.

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