Determination of the Best Method of Reducing Papanicolaou Smear Patient ReportingTimes at the 67th Combat Support Hospital, Wuerzburg Germany

摘要

The problem of Pap Smear patient reporting times has plagued the 67th CombatSupport Hospital and Europe for three years. The laboratories that have supported this organization have at time been unable to comply with regulatory requirements or performance standards. The Department of Defense standard of performance in the area of Pap Smear patient reporting times is thirty days. The inability to maintain adequate support has resulted in Pap Smear patient reporting times being as great as eighty-nine days, fifty-nine days greater than the standard adopted by the Department of Defense. In conjunction with the actions of a process action team to investigate the problem of excessive Pap Smear turnaround times the conclusion that Pap Smears should be conducted in house has resulted. This study shows that hiring in house cytotechnologists not only significantly reduces patient reporting time and enhances quality, but is also cost effective.