Increasing Patient Satisfaction by Decreasing Turnaround Time for Lab Results

Abstract

Background Information: In the Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU), patients that need a cardiac catheterization require a sheath, which is a long narrow catheter that is inserted through the femoral artery. Due to the numerous blood thinners this patient population receives, they must remain flat due to their hypercoagulable state. Often these patients experience increased discomfort related to prolonged bedrest which leads to decreased patient satisfaction. Prior to sheath removal an Activated Clotting Time (ACT) level needs to be evaluated until a therapeutic value that has been determined by the physician has been reached. Currently, the practice is for the nurse to draw and send the ACT to the Emergency Department Lab which can take up to 60 minutes to get the results. As a result of the prolonged turnaround time of the ACT, this leads to a prolonged recovery time.