Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1275740
60 Executive Briefing Sponsored by: O ver the past decade, innovations in IT and automation have significantly changed hospital operations. This holds true for hospital laboratories as well, where many routine processes can be automated, allowing for the delivery of high-quality results, improved efficiency and reduced costs for laboratories and hospitals. The need for innovative and efficient lab practices is pressing, particularly now as healthcare organizations and governments worldwide are working to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. There is an urgent need for rapid and scalable testing to help address the current pandemic as well as public health crises in the future. But improving microbiology lab efficiency by successfully implementing new IT and automation solutions can be a challenge, straining current workflows as well as the hospital's bottom line. Selecting a partner that can provide expertise and support throughout the process — from the time of purchase through implementation and beyond — is key. The case for lab automation A lack of qualified personnel is one of the biggest issues facing microbiology labs today. 1 "The number of new graduates do not match the number of open positions, and this, coupled with an aging workforce that is close to retirement, has resulted in a staff shortage crisis," 1 said Dr. Katja Lehmann, global manager, solution discovery and workflow optimization at Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD), a global medical technology company. "In addition, laboratories are facing reductions in Medicare reimbursement — the most significant in decades," 2 Dr. Lehmann said. At the same time, labs are dealing with an increase in the demand for testing as the general population ages. This is where automation can make an impact. "Automation solutions can help laboratories improve efficiency and accommodate increased demand for testing without increasing staffing," 3,4 said Bryan Crawford, U.S. finance director for BD Integrated Diagnostic Solutions. "You may get a faster time-to-result through automation," he said. (An automated solution) can streamline the testing process, reduce processing errors, and improve staff efficiency so more tests can be processed compared to non-automated labs. As a result, automation combined with workflow optimization may improve the turn-around time for the information microbiologists need for analysis. 3,4 And getting that faster result enables the lab to communicate test results to clinicians sooner. Why lean is necessary for optimal implementation of automation solutions Lab automation technology, such as BD Kiestra™ Solutions, can help microbiology labs enhance productivity while maximizing financial efficiencies. 3,4 BD's lab automation offering provides an array of solutions that can automate a number of processes for microbiology labs, including inoculation, incubation, plate imaging and result reporting. "But incorporating automated solutions into a lab brings with it other considerations, including a potential redesign of the lab space, a revision of lab processes to accommodate automation and a reevaluation of staff schedules and skill sets," said Dr. Lehmann. "[Hospitals] want the laboratory of the future that's optimized, that's working seamlessly," she said. There are three aspects that are necessary to achieve an optimized laboratory: people, process and automation. Adopting a lean mindset and principles can help hospitals make the shifts necessary to successfully deploy lab automation solutions. This involves creating a culture of continuous improvement that is leadership-driven and engages all employees. "It really takes dedication to successfully implement a continuous improvement culture," Dr. Lehmann said. "But that is what is really needed. Because, without that cultural shift, you might have pockets of success that you create, but you might not have a successful organization overall." "Labs looking to adopt lean principles must also have a robust process in place to measure success," Dr. Lehmann said. BD's team of healthcare consultants work with hospital labs to implement BD Kiestra Solutions. The consultants first assess key performance metrics prior to implementation of the automation system to establish a baseline. Then, after the go-live, these metrics can be used to routinely track the improvement in laboratory operations and make adjustments to staffing or specimen processing protocols as needed. The consultants begin building a relationship with the hospital labs before the sale of Kiestra Solutions is completed. This allows consultant teams led by Dr. Lehmann to better understand the lab's needs and the challenges. "They work with the labs until the new automation solutions Microbiology lab automation can be a game-changer — Here's how to find the right fit