Open AccessChemotherapy Wait Times in a Network of Pediatric Oncology Clinics
Author(s) -
Mohamed Elsaid,
Jennifer Morgan,
Natalia Colorado,
Jennifer Woolsey,
Natosha Canterberry,
Patricia Rice,
Carolyn Russo
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of pediatric hematology/oncology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.388
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1536-3678
pISSN - 1077-4114
DOI - 10.1097/mph.0000000000001466
Subject(s) - medicine , psychological intervention , patient satisfaction , chemotherapy , ambulatory , pediatric oncology , quality management , patient care , intensive care medicine , emergency medicine , nursing , cancer , management system , economics , management
Patient satisfaction with medical care delivery is an important aspect of value-based health care. Providers strive to provide optimal patient satisfaction. Among a network of ambulatory pediatric oncology affiliate clinics, we conducted patient satisfaction surveys and found that the lowest scores were related to delays in the administration of chemotherapy. To address this shortcoming, we used continuous improvement methodologies to reduce the delay in chemotherapy administration in 3 affiliate clinics. To evaluate the efficacy of the quality improvement interventions implemented at each affiliate clinic, we measured the time from patient arrival to the start of chemotherapy administration over a 2-week period before and after the interventions. Wait times for chemotherapy administration were reduced in each clinic by 7% to 15%, exceeding the preestablished goal of a 5% reduction without affecting patient safety. Patient satisfaction for chemotherapy wait times was also marginally increased. In conclusion, implementation of quality improvement interventions across a clinical network can improve specific aspects of patient satisfaction, thereby improving the overall patient experience.