Temporal evaluation of computed tomographic scans at a Level 1 trauma department in a central South African hospital

Background: Time is a precious commodity, especially in the trauma setting, which requires continuous evaluation to ensure streamlined service delivery, quality patient care and employee efficiency. Objectives: The present study analyses the authors’ institution’s multi-detector computed tomography...

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Main Authors: Tony Tiemesmann, Jacques Raubenheimer, Coert de Vries
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AOSIS 2016-03-01
Series:South African Journal of Radiology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://sajr.org.za/index.php/sajr/article/view/836
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author Tony Tiemesmann
Jacques Raubenheimer
Coert de Vries
author_facet Tony Tiemesmann
Jacques Raubenheimer
Coert de Vries
author_sort Tony Tiemesmann
collection DOAJ
description Background: Time is a precious commodity, especially in the trauma setting, which requires continuous evaluation to ensure streamlined service delivery, quality patient care and employee efficiency. Objectives: The present study analyses the authors’ institution’s multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) scan process as part of the imaging turnaround time of trauma patients. It is intended to serve as a baseline for the institution, to offer a comparison with institutions worldwide and to improve service delivery. Method: Relevant categorical data were collected from the trauma patient register and radiological information system (RIS) from 01 February 2013 to 31 January 2014. A population of 1107 trauma patients who received a MDCT scan was included in the study. Temporal data were analysed as a continuum with reference to triage priority, time of day, type of CT scan and admission status. Results: The median trauma arrival to MDCT scan time (TTS) and reporting turnaround time (RTAT) were 69 (39–126) and 86 (53–146) minutes respectively. TTS was subdivided into the time when the patient arrived at trauma to the radiology referral (TTRef) and submission of the radiology request, to the arrival at the MDCT (RefTS) location. TTRef was statistically significantly longer than RefTS (p < 0.0001). RTAT was subdivided into the arrival at the MDCT to the start of the radiology report (STR) and time taken to complete the report (RT). STR was statistically significantly longer than RT (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: The time to scan (TTS) was comparable to, but unfortunately the report turnaround time (RTAT) lagged behind, the findings of some first-world institutions.
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spelling doaj.art-0f7dc7ae04424290a6fd10ec419da72d2022-12-22T03:08:03ZengAOSISSouth African Journal of Radiology1027-202X2078-67782016-03-01201e1e510.4102/sajr.v20i1.836658Temporal evaluation of computed tomographic scans at a Level 1 trauma department in a central South African hospitalTony Tiemesmann0Jacques Raubenheimer1Coert de Vries2Department of Clinical Imaging Sciences, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Pelonomi Hospital and University of the Free State, BloemfonteinDepartment of Biostatistics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South AfricaDepartment of Clinical Imaging Sciences, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Pelonomi Hospital and University of the Free State, BloemfonteinBackground: Time is a precious commodity, especially in the trauma setting, which requires continuous evaluation to ensure streamlined service delivery, quality patient care and employee efficiency. Objectives: The present study analyses the authors’ institution’s multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) scan process as part of the imaging turnaround time of trauma patients. It is intended to serve as a baseline for the institution, to offer a comparison with institutions worldwide and to improve service delivery. Method: Relevant categorical data were collected from the trauma patient register and radiological information system (RIS) from 01 February 2013 to 31 January 2014. A population of 1107 trauma patients who received a MDCT scan was included in the study. Temporal data were analysed as a continuum with reference to triage priority, time of day, type of CT scan and admission status. Results: The median trauma arrival to MDCT scan time (TTS) and reporting turnaround time (RTAT) were 69 (39–126) and 86 (53–146) minutes respectively. TTS was subdivided into the time when the patient arrived at trauma to the radiology referral (TTRef) and submission of the radiology request, to the arrival at the MDCT (RefTS) location. TTRef was statistically significantly longer than RefTS (p < 0.0001). RTAT was subdivided into the arrival at the MDCT to the start of the radiology report (STR) and time taken to complete the report (RT). STR was statistically significantly longer than RT (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: The time to scan (TTS) was comparable to, but unfortunately the report turnaround time (RTAT) lagged behind, the findings of some first-world institutions.https://sajr.org.za/index.php/sajr/article/view/836computed tomographytrauma
spellingShingle Tony Tiemesmann
Jacques Raubenheimer
Coert de Vries
Temporal evaluation of computed tomographic scans at a Level 1 trauma department in a central South African hospital
South African Journal of Radiology
computed tomography
trauma
title Temporal evaluation of computed tomographic scans at a Level 1 trauma department in a central South African hospital
title_full Temporal evaluation of computed tomographic scans at a Level 1 trauma department in a central South African hospital
title_fullStr Temporal evaluation of computed tomographic scans at a Level 1 trauma department in a central South African hospital
title_full_unstemmed Temporal evaluation of computed tomographic scans at a Level 1 trauma department in a central South African hospital
title_short Temporal evaluation of computed tomographic scans at a Level 1 trauma department in a central South African hospital
title_sort temporal evaluation of computed tomographic scans at a level 1 trauma department in a central south african hospital
topic computed tomography
trauma
url https://sajr.org.za/index.php/sajr/article/view/836
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AT coertdevries temporalevaluationofcomputedtomographicscansatalevel1traumadepartmentinacentralsouthafricanhospital