Improving On-Time Starts for Pediatric Cardiac MRI.

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Imaging
• Radiology Workflow Optimization
• Quality Improvement in Healthcare

Background:

• Delayed cardiac MRI start times lead to prolonged patient fasting, extended waiting periods, and poor synchronization of anesthesia induction and contrast administration.
• Current on-time start rates for cardiac MRI examinations are as low as 10%.

Purpose of the Study:

• To improve the on-time start rate for cardiac MRI examinations.
• To address the root causes of delays in cardiac MRI scheduling and execution.

Main Methods:

• A multidisciplinary team utilized the Realizing Improvement Through Team Empowerment methodology.
• Identified key factors contributing to delays: late patient arrival, variable patient preparation, equipment unavailability, and inefficient scheduling.
• Implemented interventions including standardized appointment scripts, optimized patient preparation, and ensured equipment availability.

Main Results:

• On-time start rates for cardiac MRI examinations increased from a baseline of 10% to 34%.
• Standardized scripts, timely preparation, and equipment availability were key intervention components.

Conclusions:

• A systematic, multidisciplinary approach effectively identified and resolved issues causing cardiac MRI delays.
• Continuous application of plan-do-study-act cycles facilitated targeted interventions and improved workflow efficiency.