Lean-driven interventions, including a dedicated radiologist, improve diagnostic imaging turnaround time and radiology report time at the emergency department

Abstract

Purpose: Emergency departments (EDs) worldwide face crowding, which negatively affects patient care. Diagnostic imaging plays a major role in management of ED patients and contributes to patients’ length of stay at the ED. In this study, the impact of Lean-driven interventions on the imaging process at the ED was assessed. Methods: During a 6-month multimodal intervention period, Lean-driven interventions and a dedicated radiologist present at the ED were implemented during peak hours (12 a.m.–8 p.m.). Data concerning patient population, radiology department turnaround time (RDTT), radiology report time (RRT), and examination time (ET) for ED patients were compared with a control period of 6 months 1 year earlier. Results: RDTT, RRT, and ET were significantly shorter in the intervention period compared with those in the control period. Median RDTT was respectively 36 min (interquartile range (IQR) 24–56) and 70 min (IQR 39–127), RRT 11 min (IQR 6–21) and 37 min (IQR 15–88), and ET 22 min (IQR 14–35) and 23 min (14–38). Conclusion: Lean-driven interventions on the imaging process at the ED significantly reduced RDTT, RRT, and ET.