Quality & Safety

Duplicate Testing: Enhancing Transitions in Care Communication in the Infusion Center and Emergency Department Settings

Arlene Ortega

Taylor Goulding

oncology, duplicate testing, quality, sepsis, electronic health record, smart phrase
CJON 2021, 25(2), 201-204. DOI: 10.1188/21.CJON.201-204

Two objectives of the American Board of Internal Medicine’s Choosing Wisely® initiative include avoiding duplicate testing and choosing care that is free from harm. Oncology nurses in an academic comprehensive cancer center observed a pattern of testing duplication and related dissatisfaction among providers and patients. A quality improvement project was initiated to quantify the problem and reduce duplication by implementing collaborative solutions to improve interdepartmental communication during handoffs. Postimplementation data revealed a 35% decrease of testing duplication in the patient population.

AT A GLANCE

  • Communication and collaboration between clinical settings can affect safe handoff in support of patients at risk of systemic inflammatory response syndrome or sepsis.
  • Duplication of laboratory tests can result in adverse outcomes for both patients and healthcare systems.
  • Innovation to create electronic solutions with practical applications may affect the quality of sepsis care and operational efficiency.
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