Diagnostic & Imaging Services: Quick Diagnostic of Disease & Timely Preventive Medications for Healthy Life
Anil is an Ex-Serviceman of Indian Navy. He has 27 years of experience in mechanical engineering filed and 10 years of experience in healthcare engineering. Currently, Anil is responsible for MEP services & building maintenance of operational 244 bed multi specialty hospital in Dr. L H Hiranandani Hospital.
The quality & authenticity of testing is ensured by professionally managed & accredited centers. Some of the accreditation bodies like NABL has adopted the International Criteria for laboratory accre-ditation set by the International Organization of Standardization (ISO). It has also entered into a mutual recognition arrangement with Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation(APLAC)and is a signatory to the International Laboratory Accre-ditation Cooperation(ILAC)arrangement. Volume of testing testing time test accuracy and qualified manpower to certify results & clinical correlation by doctors are the key factors. There is a huge scope for growth in healthcare sector at the same time there is risk of wrong practices when there is shear business completion.
In most of the small cities there are primary healthcare centers & independents general practitioners who are managing the healthcare needs, but at the same time they are dependent on professional labs for their sample testing requirement. The state-of-the-art equipments in healthcare sector are key factors to handle such a large volume with accuracy. Though most of professional labs have diagnostic as well as imaging services to offer not both of them have best results. To overcome this some hospitals have own lab and joint venture with professionals for its needs so as to achieve best results for both services in the interest of best services to patients. Onsite labelling & scanning eliminates the chances of wrong testing error. Automation with test equipment & integration with end user makes it easy for accessibility to all authorized concern. Remote review & repeat reproduction of lab result is helpful to user. Testing of sample in hospital lab is preferable because of access to consultant or doctor for further follow upon course of treatment.
The accuracy of the results depends on well calibrated equipments & trained qualified manpower. Faster results are possible with the help of high speed processor, reagents, software integration, picture archival and transmission, server storage & retrieval of records, faster the speed better is the transmission & reporting. Regular training to staff by equipment manufactures has better under standing of machine and has limited breakdowns. Trained qualified manpower itself is help to limit the repetition of test and thereby limits the reagent wastage out of repeat test. Special software is preferable for quality assurance and also all equipment must be integrated with hospital management software. Round the clock service is value addition to inpatient & inhouse doctors for quick diagnostic and further course of treatment, so as to reduce the long hospital stay for patients.
•TAT(Turnaround Time): Timing taken from actual sample delivery to reporting results must be minimum.
•Transparency: Access to users with lab consultant, lab professional when in need.
•Testimonials: Certification & qualification must be verified for authenticity of lab results and quality assurance.
•Cost: There is huge competition due to professional lab operators. Competitive cost of test packages are available for users. Cost effective services due to large volume & industrial automation in the healthcare sector is possible.
To be the successful & trusted lab one must evaluate process to ensure
The quality & authenticity of testing is ensured by professionally managed & accredited centers. Some of the accreditation bodies like NABL has adopted the International Criteria for laboratory accre-ditation set by the International Organization of Standardization (ISO). It has also entered into a mutual recognition arrangement with Asia Pacific Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation(APLAC)and is a signatory to the International Laboratory Accre-ditation Cooperation(ILAC)arrangement. Volume of testing testing time test accuracy and qualified manpower to certify results & clinical correlation by doctors are the key factors. There is a huge scope for growth in healthcare sector at the same time there is risk of wrong practices when there is shear business completion.
In most of the small cities there are primary healthcare centers & independents general practitioners who are managing the healthcare needs, but at the same time they are dependent on professional labs for their sample testing requirement. The state-of-the-art equipments in healthcare sector are key factors to handle such a large volume with accuracy. Though most of professional labs have diagnostic as well as imaging services to offer not both of them have best results. To overcome this some hospitals have own lab and joint venture with professionals for its needs so as to achieve best results for both services in the interest of best services to patients. Onsite labelling & scanning eliminates the chances of wrong testing error. Automation with test equipment & integration with end user makes it easy for accessibility to all authorized concern. Remote review & repeat reproduction of lab result is helpful to user. Testing of sample in hospital lab is preferable because of access to consultant or doctor for further follow upon course of treatment.
The accuracy of the results depends on well calibrated equipments & trained qualified manpower. Faster results are possible with the help of high speed processor, reagents, software integration, picture archival and transmission, server storage & retrieval of records, faster the speed better is the transmission & reporting. Regular training to staff by equipment manufactures has better under standing of machine and has limited breakdowns. Trained qualified manpower itself is help to limit the repetition of test and thereby limits the reagent wastage out of repeat test. Special software is preferable for quality assurance and also all equipment must be integrated with hospital management software. Round the clock service is value addition to inpatient & inhouse doctors for quick diagnostic and further course of treatment, so as to reduce the long hospital stay for patients.
•TAT(Turnaround Time): Timing taken from actual sample delivery to reporting results must be minimum.
•Transparency: Access to users with lab consultant, lab professional when in need.
•Testimonials: Certification & qualification must be verified for authenticity of lab results and quality assurance.
•Cost: There is huge competition due to professional lab operators. Competitive cost of test packages are available for users. Cost effective services due to large volume & industrial automation in the healthcare sector is possible.
To be the successful & trusted lab one must evaluate process to ensure
minimum discomfort to patient due to multiple pricks, while sampling do ensure short waiting time prior sampling, avoid delayed result & repeat test due to equipment failure. Provide sound infra-structure, IT connectivity, ample lighting at work station faster billing, healthy indoor atmosphere, adequate space, staff and patient safety. Best lab infrastructure is well planned to have sections between clean sterile areas, semi sterile and infected area. Ensure air circulation at work areas, mandatory fresh air changes if permitted recir-culation of air, exhaust & isolation as per lab requirement.
Following safeties must be available for users/ staff: use of antifungal low VOC paints for lab interiors eye wash stations, safety gear like splash guard, safety goggles mask, gloves, periodical AC duct cleaning, positive & negative air movement, laminar flow, and routine medical test of staff.
To ensure compliance above 95 percent all the time, the following parameters, evaluation of patient feedback & lab performance, must be taken care: 1) Blood Culture Contamination rate. 2) Turnaround time. 3) Sample Acceptance in Lab. 4) EQA acceptance in lab. 5) Reporting errors. 6) Percentage of Re Dos. 7) Percentages of lab reports clinically correlating. 8) Employee percentage of adherence to safety. 9) Waiting Time for OPD patients for lab investigations(Average waiting time, percentage of patients exceeding 15 mins waiting).
There is an increasing demand for pathology lab home care services. The old age and immobile patients corporate clients, odd office timings life style pre & post hospital admission requirements generate the demand for home care services. Future of the healthcare sector is bright with lot of automation in terms of chip based monitoring. Android support systems at the same time there is risk of machines replacing manpower.
Why patient safety so important in hospitals?
In the recent past, we have come across many news about the fire incidences in hospitals, baby burns, and electrical shock to patient while at operation, deaths due to medication errors & reaction of medication. I am working in engineering field since last 30 years of which 12 years in healthcare. My experience is that there is slackness and negligence by people in following strict adherence to safety practices. We should not be surprised soon the Govt. is coming with bill necessitating required qualification for people working in healthcare & it is must.
I had been working with armed forces & I find safety checklist is best way to avoid errors. Other best practice is to share knowledge with subordinates. Always be prepared & be ready to face risk based situations. The periodical safety rounds, risk review & involvement of top management are key factors. People working in hospital must self evaluate must analyze and is matter of case study as to Why so many failures and incidences risking patient life? Why casual approach, while dealing with patient's life? Does each person working in a hospital not responsible for patient's safety? Why there is manhandling by patient relatives to hospital staff? List is endless.
Some of the best practices I would like to put here for the benefit of people working in healthcare sector. Each individual working with hospital must be trained to understand responsibility & criticality of job description. Training & retraining of each must be planned in manner to refresh the at regular intervals. Fire Mock drill and disaster management drill must be practiced every month & once in six month respectively with maximum participation by all employees.
Fire alarm system water sprinklers, stair case pressurization system fire switch mode of lifts, emergency communication of lifts, and fire damper auto function must be tested during every drill. Ensure every exist door marking with self liminating signage and all existdoors must be open & accessible all time. All new employees on induction must be taken for physical round of the facility and to be shown all the existing doors.
All fire safety equipments, including various pumps, hydrants, and rubber hoses jet nozzles must be available at each area on floor & to be tested once in 15 days. The hospital buildings are considered to be sick building. People visiting this building are either unwell, having weak immune system, suffering from diseases, old age immobility & in emergency situation. They are totally dependent doctors & healthcare inhouse staff. Environment is always tense & demanding in terms of emotions, cleanliness, care & compassion.
Following safeties must be available for users/ staff: use of antifungal low VOC paints for lab interiors eye wash stations, safety gear like splash guard, safety goggles mask, gloves, periodical AC duct cleaning, positive & negative air movement, laminar flow, and routine medical test of staff.
To ensure compliance above 95 percent all the time, the following parameters, evaluation of patient feedback & lab performance, must be taken care: 1) Blood Culture Contamination rate. 2) Turnaround time. 3) Sample Acceptance in Lab. 4) EQA acceptance in lab. 5) Reporting errors. 6) Percentage of Re Dos. 7) Percentages of lab reports clinically correlating. 8) Employee percentage of adherence to safety. 9) Waiting Time for OPD patients for lab investigations(Average waiting time, percentage of patients exceeding 15 mins waiting).
There is an increasing demand for pathology lab home care services. The old age and immobile patients corporate clients, odd office timings life style pre & post hospital admission requirements generate the demand for home care services. Future of the healthcare sector is bright with lot of automation in terms of chip based monitoring. Android support systems at the same time there is risk of machines replacing manpower.
Why patient safety so important in hospitals?
In the recent past, we have come across many news about the fire incidences in hospitals, baby burns, and electrical shock to patient while at operation, deaths due to medication errors & reaction of medication. I am working in engineering field since last 30 years of which 12 years in healthcare. My experience is that there is slackness and negligence by people in following strict adherence to safety practices. We should not be surprised soon the Govt. is coming with bill necessitating required qualification for people working in healthcare & it is must.
I had been working with armed forces & I find safety checklist is best way to avoid errors. Other best practice is to share knowledge with subordinates. Always be prepared & be ready to face risk based situations. The periodical safety rounds, risk review & involvement of top management are key factors. People working in hospital must self evaluate must analyze and is matter of case study as to Why so many failures and incidences risking patient life? Why casual approach, while dealing with patient's life? Does each person working in a hospital not responsible for patient's safety? Why there is manhandling by patient relatives to hospital staff? List is endless.
Some of the best practices I would like to put here for the benefit of people working in healthcare sector. Each individual working with hospital must be trained to understand responsibility & criticality of job description. Training & retraining of each must be planned in manner to refresh the at regular intervals. Fire Mock drill and disaster management drill must be practiced every month & once in six month respectively with maximum participation by all employees.
Fire alarm system water sprinklers, stair case pressurization system fire switch mode of lifts, emergency communication of lifts, and fire damper auto function must be tested during every drill. Ensure every exist door marking with self liminating signage and all existdoors must be open & accessible all time. All new employees on induction must be taken for physical round of the facility and to be shown all the existing doors.
All fire safety equipments, including various pumps, hydrants, and rubber hoses jet nozzles must be available at each area on floor & to be tested once in 15 days. The hospital buildings are considered to be sick building. People visiting this building are either unwell, having weak immune system, suffering from diseases, old age immobility & in emergency situation. They are totally dependent doctors & healthcare inhouse staff. Environment is always tense & demanding in terms of emotions, cleanliness, care & compassion.
