Sistema gastrointestinal y digestivo

Abstracto

A Study of the Slot Wastage in a Sample Endoscopy Unit in United Kingdom: Analysis of the Causes

Tariq Mahmood, Aqsa Aslam

Background: Patients who do not attend (DNA) or cannot attend (CNA) outpatient endoscopy procedure appointments can be a source of resource wastage. This study is an analysis of the DNA and CNA rates of an endoscopy unit in a sample district general hospital with the aim of finding reasons for any under or over-utilization. It recommends some solutions to solve the problem.

Method: Using the hospital computer records, all patients who did not attend (DNA) or could not attend (CNA) their appointment from 1st January 2014 to 30th June 2014 for endoscopy during weekdays and weekend were identified retrospectively.

Results:There were 116 points available per week on average.There was thus 25% wastage in point utilization.

Conclusions: This study has shown that common issue for wastage has been poor communication. This lack of communication may be between the doctor and the patient, the endoscopy manager and the patient, or the doctor and the endoscopy managers etc.