We measured the process performance of Port-a-Cath placement in an outpatient cancer surgery center by using TDABC to evaluate the patient care process in the article.As health care costs rise, continuous quality improvement and increased efficiency are crucial to reduce costs while providing high-quality care. Time-driven activity-based costing (TDABC) can help identify inefficiencies in processes of cancer care delivery.

Data were collected from the Anesthesia Information Management System database and OneConnect electronic health record (EHR) for Port-a-Cath cases performed throughout four phases: pre intervention (phase I), post intervention, stabilization, and pre–new EHR (phases II and III), and post–new EHR (phase IV). Comparing all phases, as measured with TDABC methodology, a decrease in post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) length of stay (LOS) was identified (83 minutes v 67 minutes; P < .05). The decrease in PACU LOS correlated with increased efficiency and decreasing process costs and PACU nurse resource use by fast tracking patients for Port-a-Cath placement. 

Patients’ PACU LOS decreased on the basis of the 2013 Port-a-Cath process improvement initiative and after implementation of a new EHR, over the course of 3 years, as quantified by TDABC. 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7846064/

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