The Leica Biosystems Process and Solutions Optimization team partnered with a private teaching hospital. Hospital Administration was interested in several areas pertaining to the breast care program including:
POTENTIAL TO IMPROVE PATIENT CARE THROUGH IDENTIFYING INEFFICIENCIES
Initial Data
- Recommendations and current evidence to inform and encourage improved surgical timeliness to care and adjuvant therapy after initial biopsy
- Recommendations relative to process and efficiency improvements for breast needle localizations followed by surgeries
- Recommendations for reduction in outmigration
The Leica Biosystems team conducted a three day on site visit to the breast center and found several opportunities for improvement.

Recommendations
Potential to improve efficiencies from biopsy to surgery
Use of needle localizations was a cumbersome process and was identified to cause delay in surgery. Earlier start times for needle localizations were instituted. The team should explore, pilot, and record any efficiencies from the move of the use of needle localizations to the magnetic seed to see if there is improvement in surgical timeliness.
Potential to improve efficiencies from surgery to adjuvant therapy
Oncotype Dx testing: The test is intended for use in all newly diagnosed patients with early-stage (stage I, II or IIIa), breast cancer who have node-negative or node-positive (1-3), estrogen receptor-positive (ER+),