MRI Re-Design RPIW News Briefing
Issued 8th November 2013
MRI Rapid Process Improvement Workshop
Report Back at Day 60 held on 7th November 2013
AT the Formal 60 day Report Out, Muriel Cockburn described the MRI pathway as complex
and that some of the current ways of working were causing delays for patients. The Lead
time at the start of the process was 46 days and the team have set themselves a bold
target to try and get this down to 28 days.
Muriel fed-back that “words can’t describe the lead time” but pointed out that the process had revealed very
efficient working practices in some areas which was a “morale booster for staff.”
Scope
From receipt of referral to image acquisition in MRI (excludes reporting)
Overarching Target
From receipt of referral to MRI scan to get from 46 days to 28 days by the end of the 90 days.
Progress so far …….
1. From Monday 11th Nov, MRI request cards will go
directly onto RIS Booking system and electronic
justification will get underway
2. 11 extra patients per week are being seen by
opening service at 08.30 when staffing allows
3. New patient appointment letters being used
4. Urgent scan code introduced and entered in RIS
5. 80% target for patients being scanned within 24
hours being achieved
6. Direct Access MRI for prostrate and breast in
place and ENT now being considered
7. Protocols developed by radiologists
8. Work ongoing to achieve an extended
working day supported by a new rota
9. Duty Radiologist office to be established
10. Work ongoing to support an integrated
booking team
11. Discussions underway to see if Scanners can
be serviced out of hours
12. Work nearly complete on having monitoring
reports which will include robust definitions
and weekly run charts
Summing up
Elaine Mead (Workshop Lead) said: “This is a particularly complex RPIW. We have made quite a bit of
progress but acknowledge that we have stalled on some things. It is critical that we get the capacity right.
Clearly there is no point in making booking processes slick if there are no slots to book in to.
“But the work carried out to date shows that we should have more than enough capacity once we can get rid
of the back log. Having reviewed the RPIW we believe the actions we identified during the first week are still
the right ones. Our task now over the next 30 days is making sure we execute them all. The really hard work
is continuing to make the changes. However we do feel we are still on track to delivers significant reduction
in the lead time.”
The 90 Day Report Out will take place on 5th December @12.00
For further information contact Muriel Cockburn (RPIW Process Owner)
Superintendent Radiographer; Tel 01463 706053; Page:2167; muriel.cockburn@nhs.net