Case Studies

Rhondalyn Bomkamp, RN, BSN, MBA

Wendi Waugh, R.T. (R)(T) CMD CTR BS

Kimberly J. Byrwa-Neff, RN, BA, CPHQ

Southern Ohio Medical Center (SOMC) is a community hospital in Portsmouth, Ohio. Review of data pertaining to breast care delivery demonstrated opportunities for improvement. Analysis of the cadence of care processes across departments demonstrated delays in care and outmigration potential. One quality study demonstrated 10% of patients did NOT select SOMC for surgical intervention post biopsy.

Anatomic pathology has historically relied on manual systems of tracking and data collection. While many laboratory information systems (LIS) provide rudimentary data on cases, tissue blocks and slides, they fail to report data in such a way as to be useful in real-time decision making.

The Leica Biosystems Process and Solutions Optimization team has partnered with Queen Elizabeth Hospital to examine how to optimize their processes to reduce turn-around-time. QEH is most interested in having slides assigned to their Pathologists earlier in the day. The Process and Solutions Optimization team identified a few changes to help recognize and monitor their goals.

Rhondalyn Bomkamp, RN, BSN, MBA

Wendi Waugh, R.T. (R)(T) CMD CTR BS

Kimberly J. Byrwa-Neff, RN, BA, CPHQ

Leica Biosystems working in partnership with Southern Ohio Medical Center (SOMC), conducted process assessments to analyze the timeliness treatment for breast cancer patients. We identified a lack of standardized processes for conduction of imaging services and elongated time to diagnosis. The Breast Imaging and Reporting Data System (BI-RADs) is the standardized method to record findings on imaging studies.

Kimberly J. Byrwa-Neff, RN, BA, CPHQ

Rhondalyn Bomkamp, RN, BSN, MBA

In partnership with the National Consortium of Breast Centers (NCBC), Leica Biosystems’ Process & Solution Optimization team worked with several hospitals with the goal to improve the quality and efficiencies of their breast programs. Through this work, the team identified common barriers and improvement opportunities.

The Leica Biosystems Process and Solutions Optimization Team partnered with a large U.S.-based academic medical center to examine how to best utilize equipment in its pathology lab to gain efficiencies while saving money. This hospital is most interested in the impact that equipment can have on reducing turn-around time and saving money in the routine histology lab. By benchmarking current practices and performing a capacity analysis, the Process and Solutions Optimization Team can quantify key performance indicators (KPIs) contributing to the lab’s operational efficiency and present a solution that satisfies its goals.

The Leica Biosystems Content and Evidence team has partnered with a private, non-profit, integrated health system to optimize their new laboratory layout to ensure efficient process flow. The laboratory is most interested in ensuring their new laboratory space is structured to best handle the initial volume while allowing for increased growth over the coming years. The new histology laboratory will include routine, special, and immunohistochemistry staining.

The Leica Biosystems Content and Evidence Team has partnered with a private, multispecialty clinic to assess the impact of implementing automated specimen tracking into their laboratory. This laboratory is most interested in increasing efficiency and patient safety throughout their processes.

The Leica Biosystems Process and Solutions Optimization team has partnered with Wisconsin Diagnostics to evaluate and optimize efficiency through automation. For this study, the HistoCore SPECTRA ST H&E staining system was utilized with two different platforms. The HistoCore SPECTRA ST Stainer, with detached Leica CV5030 Coverslipper, was compared with the HistoCore SPECTRA CV coverslipper, offering attached and automated coverslipping.

The Leica Biosystems Process and Solutions Optimization team has partnered with a major academic medical center to examine ways to further optimize their anatomic pathology lab and equipment. This laboratory was primarily interested in the impact that specimen tracking can have on increasing efficiency and patient safety.