Office Based Biopsy Clinic

SusQI project completed as part of the Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board (CTM UHB) and Centre for Sustainable Healthcare Intensive Sustainable Innovation Group Scholar Programme. 

Team Members:

Mr S. Rao Pasunuru, Mr U. Chalishazar and Miss. A.Morris

Setting/Patient Group: ENT Department

Issue to be Addressed:

Operating theatres are high resource settings with a considerable carbon footprint. The development of lean pathways such as moving throat biopsies to a clinic setting under local anesthesia will reduce bed occupancy, reduce pressures on operating theatres and improve convenience for patients.

Intervention:

• Design and implementation of a novel pathways enabling patients seen in outpatient clinic to be allocated for an office-based biopsy (micro-laryngoscopy and biopsy) clinic with same day discharge

Outcome:

Clinical

• Reduced waiting time for patients requiring biopsy
• Reduced bed occupancy and better utilisation of theatre time
• Better patient satisfaction

Social

• Reduced number of journeys for patient/relatives in novel pathway compared to conventional pathway resulting in avoided lose of wages, travel expenses and time required.

Environmental

• Estimated carbon savings of biopsy on novel pathway compared to conventional pathway of 154.15kgCO2e per biopsy (nearly halved)
• Clinical waste was reduced by 93% in the novel pathway compared to conventional pathway

Economic

• Estimated cost saving of £547 per biopsy on novel pathways compared to conventional

Key Learning Point:

System change fueled by COVID-19 has resulted in significant social, financial, and environmental savings with positive outcomes for patients and staff alike.

Full case study report includes more information about measurement, results/impact, next steps and learning points.