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Updated: Oct 26, 2025

Remote Laboratory Management: Respiratory Virus Diagnostics
Published on: April 6, 2019
Systems Analysis of a Dedicated Ambulatory Respiratory Unit for Seeing and Ensuring Follow-up of Patients With
James C Benneyan1, Tiantian White, Nicole Nehls
1Healthcare Systems Engineering Institute, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts (Dr Benneyan, Ms Nehls, and Mr Yap); Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts (Drs White, Phillips, and Schiff); Center for Primary Care, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts (Drs Phillips and Schiff); Division of General Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts (Drs M. Aronson, T. Anderson, Goyal, Lindenberg, Kim, Cohen, and Phillips and Mr Sternberg); and Center for Patient Safety, Brigham Health, Boston, Massachusetts (Dr Schiff).
Abstract:
COVID-19 necessitated significant care redesign, including new ambulatory workflows to handle surge volumes, protect patients and staff, and ensure timely reliable care. Opportunities also exist to harvest lessons from workflow innovations to benefit routine care. We describe a dedicated COVID-19 ambulatory unit for closing testing and follow-up loops characterized by standardized workflows and electronic communication, documentation, and order placement. More than 85% of follow-ups were completed within 24 hours, with no observed staff, nor patient infections associated with unit operations. Identified issues include role confusion, staffing and gatekeeping bottlenecks, and patient reluctance to visit in person or discuss concerns with phone screeners.
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