A new method for analyzing diagnostic delay in gynecological cancer

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Oncology
• Process Improvement

Background:

• Healthcare delays impact patient outcomes and treatment efficacy.
• Understanding diagnostic delays is crucial for improving patient care pathways.
• Gynecological cancer diagnosis can be complex, leading to potential delays.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel methodology for illustrating, understanding, and measuring healthcare delays.
• To demonstrate the utility of process mapping tools in analyzing diagnostic delays.
• To investigate diagnostic delays in gynecological cancer using the proposed methodology.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a combination of value stream mapping and business process modeling notation.
• Developed patient pathway maps to visualize the diagnostic process.
• Included six women with diagnostic delays of six weeks or more in gynecological cancer care.

Main Results:

• The process mapping methodology successfully visualized complex diagnostic pathways.
• Key contributors to diagnostic delay were identified, including lack of suspicion and referral issues.
• The roles of various participants (patients, GPs, hospitals) in causing delays became evident.

Conclusions:

• Process mapping tools offer a valuable analytical framework for healthcare delay analysis.
• The methodology effectively identifies critical factors contributing to diagnostic delays in gynecological cancer.
• This approach can enhance the understanding and measurement of delays in healthcare settings.