Implementation of a visual appointment system to enhance oncology infusion suite efficiency at Norris Cotton Cancer Center (NCCC).

301 Background: Infusion suite patients were experiencing excessive delays for administration of chemotherapy, blood products, and hydration. Manually collected data revealed that 80% of patients did not start their infusion appointments on time, though there was limited additional data available for further analyses. The scheduling system allowed for booking a "start time" for infusion therapy, but there was no connection between the appointment slots and the actual number of infusion stations, length of the infusions, and available nursing staff. There was an identified need for 1) a “visual” scheduling system that would aid in better matching available resources with patient demand and 2) real time collection of electronic timestamps to better understand patient flow and improve efficiency. Methods: An already existing and supported visual scheduling system was introduced to the infusion schedulers. This system works by assigning patients to available resources (chairs and nurses) and timeslots. The sy...