Laboratory Test Control System Predicting Turnaround Time
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current hospital information systems face challenges in coordinating and predicting the end time of diagnostic tests, leading to inefficiencies and potential accidents due to the manual handling of large volumes of samples in laboratory settings.
Innovation Solution
A test control device and method that integrates with hospital information systems and total laboratory automation systems to monitor test progress, predict end times using real-time data and a trained prediction model, and generate visual output for laboratory status, enabling efficient management and emergency processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual labor is used to handle laboratory samples, then flexibility in handling is maintained, but productivity decreases and errors increase due to the large volume of samples processed per hour
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical handling of samples with an automated laboratory information management system that electronically tracks, monitors, and manages the entire sample processing workflow, from reception to result delivery, thereby increasing productivity while reducing human error
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-monitoring and self-management of laboratory processes through automated status tracking, real-time progress monitoring, and automatic generation of treatment schedules based on predicted test end times, reducing the need for manual intervention
2Measurement precision
If test progress is monitored manually through lists, then simplicity of the monitoring approach is maintained, but measurement precision decreases and accidents may occur due to inability to identify abnormalities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual list-based monitoring with an automated electronic monitoring system that real-time tracks test progress, calculates predicted end times, and identifies abnormalities through systematic data analysis, significantly improving measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors test status, compares actual progress against predicted timelines, and provides real-time feedback when abnormalities are detected, enabling timely intervention and improving monitoring accuracy
3Loss of time
If nurses predict test end times heuristically, then ease of operation is maintained, but loss of time increases and treatment coordination becomes inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calculation of predicted test end times based on current test progress and historical data, allowing treatment schedules to be pre-coordinated and optimized before patients actually need treatment, reducing wait times and improving coordination
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously updates predicted end times based on real-time test status and provides feedback to treatment teams, enabling dynamic adjustment of treatment schedules to minimize patient wait times while maintaining operational efficiency
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a test control device, method, and recording medium and may particularly provide a test control device, method, and recording medium that monitors a test progress process based on the processing time (also referred to as a turnaround time (TAT)) of an emergency room sample or per-progress step processing time information about each test performed in a laboratory. There is also provided a test control device, method, and recording medium for predicting the test end time of each specimen using a prediction model.