BLOOD SCIENCES
In addition to high levels of patient and GP satisfaction, other benefits linked to the new phlebotomy booking process include sustainability improvements, reduced call centre demand and sample quality improvement
to make a booking that they manage themselves.”
Patients now benefit from the convenience of being able to select their appointments, and to be able to easily manage that appointment. As soon as a GP has requested a blood test, the patient receives a text message containing their unique booking link. If the patient forgets to book, the scheduler solution will send them a reminder. Patients also receive a confirmation text when they do book their phlebotomy appointment which reassures patients that their booking has been made.
Booking made easy The patient receives a text with a booking link as well as the Trust’s call centre phone number. By clicking on the link, the patient is connected directly to the scheduling service and can choose a convenient location and time for their phlebotomy appointment.
The appointment scheduler software displays available appointments within clinically relevant timeframes, ie if a GP requires a test to be completed in 10 days’ time, the patient will only be offered suitable dates when they receive their booking link. Importantly, patients can also manage their booking from the original link in the text so if they need to cancel and reschedule at a later time, it’s easy for the patient to do this. This also helps to free up appointment slots for other patients and to reduce DNAs in phlebotomy.
Improving quality in blood sciences Within clinic, the scheduler software provides an Expected Patient Screen that allows the phlebotomist to call patients, match blood tubes to orders and record attendance.
The appointment scheduler software works seamlessly with the pathology service LIMS. This enables efficient identification of required blood tests and tubes when the patient presents in phlebotomy. By scanning a WASP generated QR code (using a mobile device enabled version of MOLIS), detailed sampling instructions are
48
retrieved from the LIMS. Phlebotomists simply scan the necessary barcoded blood tube(s), which associates the tube with that order. When the tubes arrive in the laboratory, the barcodes are scanned, and the order is identified. Whereas historically some patients may arrive with multiple paper test request forms which would need manual checks, the new service is helping to reduce errors by identifying the required tests and the correct blood tubes required for each test.
Patient feedback
Having been successfully piloted at two GP practices, Warrington and Halton’s phlebotomy booking service is being
rolled out to all practices in the Halton and Warrington area in 2024. The Trust is reporting high levels of patient engagement and satisfaction whilst supporting quality improvement in blood sciences, and sustainability programmes in primary care. 92% patients opted to book online during the initial service pilot. Additionally, patients are no longer expected to present at clinic with their GP order paperwork, relieving patients of the responsibility of collecting paperwork from their practice. This is especially useful for patients receiving referrals for blood tests following a remote consultation.
Patient feedback has been
extraordinarily positive, with reports of patients leaving their GP, receiving a text, booking their appointment online and being bled within minutes. The Trust is equally positive, reporting that it has taken away some call centre traffic and improved call access times despite being at reasonably low pilot levels. It is predicted that this improvement will continue exponentially, especially if most patients continue to book online themselves.
Patient feedback has been extraordinarily positive, with reports of patients leaving their GP, receiving a text, booking their appointment online and being bled within minutes.
SEPTEMBER 2024
WWW.PATHOLOGYINPRACTICE.COM
AdobeStock / Microgen
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56
