Computer-aided Monitoring of Surgical Pathology Workflow

ObjectiveTo explore the feasibility of computer-aided monitoring of surgical pathology workflow.Materials and MethodsWe analyzed the four subprocesses in the surgical pathologic process: (1) arranging surgical pathology examination to receipt of the examination sheet and sample by the laboratory; (2) receipt of the sample to issuance of the pathology report; (3) issuance of the pathology report to automatic forwarding of positive pathology reports by e-mail to the physician; (4) receipt of the positive report to physician response acknowledging receipt.ResultsAbout 99.2% of the 20,287 samples arrived at the surgical pathology laboratory within 1 work day after the examination was ordered. The pathological report was finished within 1, 2, 3, and 4 work days in 48.7%, 86.4%, 95.8%, and 98.1% of cases, respectively, and was overdue (over 4 working days) in 1.9% of cases. The two main reasons for overdue reports were decalcification of bone samples (41.7%) and complex processing of samples (37.1%). There were 2239 (11%) positive pathological reports that required automatic computer forwarding; the highest percentage (84.3%) of these was reports of malignancies. Automatic computer forwarding succeeded in 99.6% of cases. Physicians replied to confirm receipt of positive reports within 24 and 120 hours after receipt in 52.4% and 83.6% of cases, respectively.ConclusionThe use of the computer to monitor surgical pathology work-flow is feasible. This method can be used for quality assurance in surgical pathology workflow.