Preventing The Forgotten Ureteral Stent: Implementation Of A Web-Based Stent Registry With Automatic Recall Application

Main Category: Urology / Nephrology
Also Included In: IT / Internet / E-mail
Article Date: 30 Dec 2007 - 1:00 PDT

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UroToday.com- Two important developments are reported in this manuscript. First, the creation of an electronic stent registry which allows for the timely sending of email messages to administrative staff and the urologist placing the stent as to when a predetermined "maximal stent life" has been exceeded and the stent needs to be removed. Using this registry, all stents were removed within 21 days following the MSL. However, no electronic stent registry can be better than the data entered; in this regard, the authors embarked on a second development: enabling electronic stent register to read barcodes on the packaging of the stent itself thereby facilitating registration. When this was done the data capture rate rose from 61% to 87%. Given the problems that arise from a "forgotten" ureteral stent, it would seem that this type of system should be implemented at all hospitals for all patients in whom a "temporary" foreign body, regardless of type, is placed. In addition, this should assure the hospital of being compensated for the stent placed; one wonders how often during a procedure, charge capture the stent is missed. In addition to the administrative staff and physician involved, I would include the patient on the email list for receiving notification of when the stent needs to be removed. All in all, this type of development can save all concerned a significant amount of morbidity and expense.

Lynch MF, Ghani KR, Frost I, Anson KM.

Urology. 70(3): 423-426, September 2007

doi:10.1016/j.urology.2007.04.022
Reported by UroToday.com Contributing Editor Ralph V. Clayman, M.D

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