Radiology room productivity.

Radiology has a significant impact on all health care processes at the "Policlinico A. Gemelli". The performance of Radiology rooms was thus analyzed within the overall performance of health care processes (e.g. medical wards, emergency service, day hospital). In this context, in the assessment phase of the reengineering project the Radiology room productivity has been analyzed. From outcomes of this analysis it appears that there is a high potential for increasing the Radiology room productivity (except for TC and MRI rooms). It has been observed that a better ward/service communication, together with a better use and planning of Radiology rooms and resources would allow a more efficient performance of the service. The reengineering project has led to a reorganization of the communication between Radiology rooms and wards/day hospital, a better inpatient transfer system from wards to Radiology rooms and the planning of the requests for exams. At present, a team is working in order to introduce a medium term budget of exams for all the wards associated to the provision of care for those diseases for which patient admission can be planned based on available Radiology rooms.