[Applying healthcare failure mode and effect analysis to improve the surgical specimen transportation process and rejection rate].

BACKGROUND & PROBLEMS: Because surgical pathology specimens are crucial to the diagnosis and treatment of disease, it is critical that they be collected and transported safely and securely. Due to recent near-miss events in our department, we used the healthcare failure model and effect analysis to identify 14 potential perils in the specimen collection and transportation process. Improvement and prevention strategies were developed accordingly to improve quality of care.

PURPOSE

Using health care failure mode and effect analysis (HFMEA) may improve the surgical specimen transportation process and reduce the rate of surgical specimen rejection.

RESOLUTIONS

Rectify standard operating procedures for surgical pathology specimen collection and transportation. Create educational videos and posters. Rectify methods of specimen verification. Organize and create an online and instantaneous management system for specimen tracking and specimen rejection.

RESULTS

Implementation of the new surgical specimen transportation process effectively eliminated the 14 identified potential perils. In addition, the specimen rejection fell from 0.86% to 0.03%.

CONCLUSIONS

This project was applied to improve the specimen transportation process, enhance interdisciplinary cooperation, and improve the patient-centered healthcare system. The creation and implementation of an online information system significantly facilitates specimen tracking, hospital cost reductions, and patient safety improvements. The success in our department is currently being replicated across all departments in our hospital that transport specimens. Our experience and strategy may be applied to inter-hospital specimen transportation in the future.