A flowchart for a hospital pre-admission testing process is shown below. Determine the important quality characteristics inherent in this process and suggest possible improvements.

1. Surgeon's office 2. OR scheduler 3. Surgeon and OR 4. OR scheduler scheduler reach schedules PAT 5. OR scheduler calls OR scheduling checks date agreement on and surgery date informs surgeon's with possible date. availability. office of PAT date surgery date. in hospital system 9. Beeper signals 8. Patient given 7. Patient arrives 6. Surgeon's office informs patient of patient to come beeper and goes at hospital at to registration. scheduled PAT date and into waiting room. PAT time. pertinent information 10. Registration occurs: 13 PAT nurse . Contact information. 11. Registrar 12. Registrar retrieves chart . Family information. enters patient's signals PAT nurse info into hospital and takes patient and reviews . Insurance information, to waiting room. Collect payment. system. chart orders 15. Patient assessment starts 14 PATnurse invites patient to Dateltima EKG completed office for consult. 18, Direct and educated on where to go in hospital 16. Does patient No 20 Patient No need lab or goes home Yes 17, Is lab 19 Complete X-ray labs and complete? O