The use of technology in the patient journey

Keywords

technology - innovation - oncology patient

Introduction: The incorporation of technology in the healthcare sector has contributed to reducing wait times and, consequently, the associated stress factors, such as waiting lines and delays in medication distribution. Given these challenges, it is crucial for technological innovations to emerge that identify obstacles in the care process, aiming to provide better quality in healthcare services.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of using Stopwatch technology in reducing wait times for oncology care at an oncology clinic in Fortaleza, Brazil.

Method: The technological tool named Stopwatch was developed by the nursing and information technology departments to address identified bottlenecks that led to prolonged patient journeys in the oncology clinic. Detailed mapping was conducted across various departments, including reception (clinic entrance), triage, Satellite Pharmacy, Production Pharmacy, and nursing station, to monitor the time from patient arrival to discharge, including reception and medication delivery. Based on the results, a real-time control panel was installed to monitor delays. When a department experienced delays, the responsible team was notified and required to provide justifications, with the goal of identifying and overcoming barriers in the process.

Results: Process analysis revealed significant delays at reception, triage, and the pharmacy, primarily due to missing health operator guides, multiple protocol approvals, high simultaneous patient demand, and delays in medication delivery by the pharmacy. Three months after implementing the Stopwatch tool, there was a substantial reduction in delays. Process mapping and standardization of times at each stage resulted in increased team satisfaction. Currently, a significant improvement is observed in the wait time indicator at reception/triage, which increased from 62% to 89.5% relative to the established target.

Conclusion: The technology allowed for the identification of efficiency barriers, increased motivation, and facilitated decision-making through forecasts. Additionally, it contributed to reducing patient wait times in a safe manner while ensuring high-quality care.

Corresponding author: Juliana Palácio De Queiroz Ventura Barros (e-mail: [e-mail]).

 

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No conflict of interest has been declared by the author(s).

Publication History

Article published online:
06 May 2025