MRI Wait Times Reduced Due to APC Process Changes
Wait times reduced from an average of five weeks to less than 48 hours
Over the past year, wait times for appointments for MRI studies at St. Louis Children’s Hospital (SLCH) have been reduced from an average of four to six weeks to just a day or two. The dramatic reduction resulted from a process improvement project that examined both the nursing and anesthesiology staffing models used in SLCH’s Ambulatory Procedure Center.
“Children’s Hospital has three premier, state-of-the-art MRI scanners, and we wanted to make the best use of that capability,” says Jennifer Cole, MD, SLCH attending anesthesiologist and director of APC sedation services. “One way of achieving that goal was to change our anesthesiology staffing model for children scheduled for MRIs.”
Previously, one anesthesiologist was available for patients undergoing MRI scans, which meant just one scan could be conducted at a time. Now an anesthesia care team consists of an anesthesiologist and two additional qualified anesthesia providers—residents, fellows or certified registered nurse anesthetists—allowing two sedated MRIs to run simultaneously.
Changes to the APC’s nursing model on Mondays and Wednesdays—days when two MRI scanners are in use—also have helped streamline the patient throughput process for MRI. Previously, nurses followed one patient from the time of admitting through to post-op and discharge. Now the nursing model more closely resembles that found in an operating room setting.
“We’ve assigned nurses to cover specific functions such as admitting and post-op. In addition, we now have a nurse coordinator who oversees getting patients from admitting to the MRI scanners and from there to post-op,” says Staci Beck, NE-BC, BSN, RN, APC manager. “This allows nurses to concentrate on one responsibility and results in a more coordinated approach to patient care. Eventually, this nursing model will be in place throughout the week in the APC.”
Cooperative efforts among anesthesiology, the APC, radiology and pharmacy to better coordinate support functions also have contributed to increased efficiency. Improving communications between the APC and patients is an ongoing goal.
“We are investigating the best ways of preparing patients and their caregivers for their visit to the APC, especially the importance of arriving promptly and following instructions about restrictions on food and liquid intake,” says Beck.
Adds Dr. Cole, “Our referring physicians play an important role in helping to educate and prepare patients and their families for procedures requiring sedation. With their support and assistance, we are confident we will continue improving our patients’ experience when they visit the APC.”
