SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Stat! Improving Image Order Priority and Order-to-Completion Time

Pdf Summary

This project addressed inappropriate use of the STAT radiology priority at Tampa General Hospital, where STAT orders were being used for non-emergent reasons such as speeding up delays, getting tests before discharge, or completing imaging before rounds. This misuse had led to a 67% increase in head CT orders placed as STAT.<br /><br />A multidisciplinary team including radiology leadership, inpatient physicians, technologists, and IT support redesigned the ordering process. They created clear institutional definitions for radiology priorities, piloted the changes with CT head orders, added an attestation requiring physicians to confirm agreement with the selected priority, and introduced an ASAP pathway for urgent but not true emergency imaging. Performance was tracked using a Qlik dashboard.<br /><br />Providers were educated through flyers and division meetings. After the order changes, STAT image orders decreased by 58.5% within one month and this improvement was sustained over four months. Order-to-completion time improved from 3 hours 8 minutes to 2 hours. ASAP orders increased from 0–3 per month to about 80 per month, and ASAP turnaround remained under the 6-hour goal.<br /><br />The project concluded that defining radiology priorities clearly and requiring order attestation improved appropriate ordering behavior. It also showed that physician champions were important for engaging providers and sustaining change.

Asset Subtitle

Lien Le

Meta Tag

Author List Colleen McIntosh, Denise R. Vander Werf, Keith Aldahondo, Lien Le, Sandra Genao

Category Innovations

Concept STAT Imaging Order

Concept Radiology Priority Definition

Concept Order-to-Completion Time

Concept Imaging Order Misuse

Concept ASAP

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization Tampa General Hospital

Presenting Author Lien Le

Track Quality Improvement

Keywords

STAT radiology

head CT orders

order prioritization

radiology workflow

appropriateness

attestation

ASAP imaging

order turnaround time

provider education

quality improvement

STAT Imaging Order

Radiology Priority Definition

Order-to-Completion Time

Imaging Order Misuse

ASAP