Efforts to reduce the number of inquiries by constructing a support system using FileMaker Pro

Abstract

At our hospital, the laboratory ordering system does not issue test tubes with labels attached, but only the labels. Therefore, the nurses must find the appropriate tubes and attach the labels manually. The nurses sometimes make mistakes in selecting the test tubes; to avoid such mistakes, the nurses call the laboratory to inquire about the tube selections. These calls are time-consuming for both nurses and laboratory technicians. Thus, we developed a new search-and-display system for laboratory examination inquiries utilizing the existing FileMaker Pro server and client system. With this system, users can scan or manually enter patient IDs and examination dates to find what types of examination were ordered by the doctor and the appropriate test tubes and labels. This system can also display cautionary messages while obtaining blood samples and provide information on important issues related to blood transfusion. This system collects logs describing which tubes are frequently searched, enabling the laboratory technicians to obtain feedback about which examinations/tubes that nurses have questions. With this system, the number of mistakes resulting in redrawing blood and the number of inquiry calls from nurses to the laboratory section have been reduced.