Optimizing Outpatient Radiation Oncology Consult Workflow by Using Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing: Efficiency and Financial Impacts

Authors

Julius Weng
Shane Mesko
Gregory Chronowski
Percy Lee
Seungtaek Choi
Prajnan Das
Albert C Koong
Katy French
Thomas Aloia
Richie Ehlers
Dorothy Elrod-Joplin
Ashley Kerr
Regina Smith
Wendi Martinez
Elizabeth Bloom
Shalin J Shah
Matthew S Ning
Zhongxing Liao
Joseph Herman
Shalini Moningi
Amy C Moreno
Quynh-Nhu Nguyen

Publication Date

5-1-2024

Journal

JCO Oncology Practice

Abstract

PURPOSE: Clinical efficiency is a key component of value-based health care. Our objective here was to identify workflow inefficiencies by using time-driven activity-based costing (TDABC) and evaluate the implementation of a new clinical workflow in high-volume outpatient radiation oncology clinics.

METHODS: Our quality improvement study was conducted with the Departments of GI, Genitourinary (GU), and Thoracic Radiation Oncology at a large academic cancer center and four community network sites. TDABC was used to create process maps and optimize workflow for outpatient consults. Patient encounter metrics were captured with a real-time status function in the electronic medical record. Time metrics were compared using Mann-Whitney U tests.

RESULTS: Individual patient encounter data for 1,328 consults before the intervention and 1,234 afterward across all sections were included. The median overall cycle time was reduced by 21% in GI (19 minutes), 18% in GU (16 minutes), and 12% at the community sites (9 minutes). The median financial savings per consult were $52 in US dollars (USD) for the GI, $33 USD for GU, $30 USD for thoracic, and $42 USD for the community sites. Patient satisfaction surveys (from 127 of 228 patients) showed that 99% of patients reported that their providers spent adequate time with them and 91% reported being seen by a care provider in a timely manner.

CONCLUSION: TDABC can effectively identify opportunities to improve clinical efficiency. Implementing workflow changes on the basis of our findings led to substantial reductions in overall encounter cycle times across several departments, as well as high patient satisfaction and significant financial savings.

Keywords

Humans, Radiation Oncology, Workflow, Outpatients, Male, Female, Referral and Consultation, Middle Aged

Comments

PMID: 38330252