Right patient, right requestor, right tests

(Aotea News, August 2009)

We know from your feedback that missing tests are a concern and this is, of course, a concern to us too. We have now introduced an electronic tool – a Real Time Audit system – to eliminate these errors.

The electronic, data-entry audit system, introduced in April, checks patient, requestor and test details on every request before specimens are tested.

• We have seen immediate benefits from the system including:
• Almost all significant transcription errors are now detected and corrected prior to testing.
• Less time taking phone calls from requestors for add-on of missed tests (42% reduction in phoned test adds).
• Fewer phone calls from referrers about data entry problems and complaints.
• Elimination of wasted costs from incorrectly performing the wrong test.

We want to be much more proactive in detecting data entry errors at source and fixing them before they become an issue. RTA is a worldclass initiative and we feel confident that Real Time Audit will provide a noticeable improvement in our service to you.