Routine failures in the process for blood testing and the communication of results to patients in primary care in the UK

"A number of potential failures in testing and communicating results to patients were identified, and some specific ideas for improving existing systems emerged. These included same-day phlebotomy sessions, use of modern technology methods to proactively communicate routine results and targeted training for receptionists handling sensitive data."

Routine failures in the process for blood testing and the communication of results to patients in primary care in the UK: a qualitative exploration of patient and provider perspectives
I Litchfield, L Bentham, A Hill, RJ McManus, R Lilford, S Greenfield
BMJ Quality and Safety 2015;24:681-690 doi:10.1136/bmjqs-2014-003690

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Test result communication in primary care

"Our study has shown that the potential for error in the TRC [test result communication] process is large yet seemingly unrecognised in general practice. Staff have yet to introduce technological solutions with the result that the robustness of the system hinges on patients who may be unaware of their responsibility to retrieve results and in many cases act as the system fail-safe."

Test result communication in primary care: a survey of current practice
I Litchfield, L Bentham, R Lilford, RJ McManus, A Hill, S Greenfield
BMJ Quality and Safety 2015;24:691–699. doi:10.1136/bmjqs-2014-003712

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Optimising the Pre-Operative Investigative Work Up for Elective Surgical Patients

"Design and implementation of a “Pre-Admission Handbook”, for use by junior doctors and nurse practitioners in the pre-operative setting, reduced the rate of over investigation to 12% in a subsequent, prospective audit cycle of 50 patients, and has improved patient care by standardising the pre-admissions process for elective surgery"

Optimising the Pre-Operative Investigative Work Up for Elective Surgical Patients
N Hack-Adams, N King, M Ahuja, SM Higgs
BMJ Quality Improvement Reports 2015;4: doi:10.1136/bmjquality.u206272.w2608

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A novel approach to improving coagulation sample ordering in an emergency department

"Through a simple change in longstanding clinical practice, we were able to reduce the number of unnecessary coagulation samples sent from the emergency department."

A novel approach to improving coagulation sample ordering in an emergency department
E Murphy, S MacGlone, C McGroarty
BMJ Quality Improvement Reports 2015;4: doi:10.1136/bmjquality.u204785.w2857

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