top of page

BackTable / VI / Podcast / Episode #206

Improving Workflow Efficiency: Starting with Paracentesis

with Dr. Karen Brown

Dr. Karen Brown explains how she improved paracentesis workflow by creating a service that has shortened procedure time, decreased hospital length of stay, and improved patient and referring provider satisfaction.

This podcast is supported by:

Be part of the conversation. Put your sponsored messaging on this episode. Learn how.

Improving Workflow Efficiency: Starting with Paracentesis with Dr. Karen Brown on the BackTable VI Podcast)
Ep 206 Improving Workflow Efficiency: Starting with Paracentesis with Dr. Karen Brown
00:00 / 01:04

BackTable, LLC (Producer). (2022, May 9). Ep. 206 – Improving Workflow Efficiency: Starting with Paracentesis [Audio podcast]. Retrieved from https://www.backtable.com

Stay Up To Date

Follow:

Subscribe:

Sign Up:

Podcast Contributors

Dr. Karen Brown discusses Improving Workflow Efficiency: Starting with Paracentesis on the BackTable 206 Podcast

Dr. Karen Brown

Dr. Karen Brown is the Section Chief of Interventional Radiology at the University of Utah.

Dr. Aaron Fritts discusses Improving Workflow Efficiency: Starting with Paracentesis on the BackTable 206 Podcast

Dr. Aaron Fritts

Dr. Aaron Fritts is a Co-Founder of BackTable and a practicing interventional radiologist in Dallas, Texas.

Synopsis

In this episode, host Dr. Aaron Fritts interviews Dr. Karen Brown, Section Chief for Interventional Radiology at the University of Utah about how she improved workflow by creating a paracentesis service that has shortened procedure time, decreased hospital length of stay, and improved patient and referring provider satisfaction.

Dr. Brown begins by reviewing the standard workflow for performing paracentesis before implementing her new program. She says paracentesis used to be done in a procedure room, and would often take quite long, delaying other procedures that were a better use of the room. Though a simple procedure, paracentesis can take quite some time to fully drain the ascites.

Dr. Brown and colleagues conducted a trial that compared standard wall suction to the Renova pump. Patients preferred Renova due to less capturing of bowel and adjusting of the catheter. They found that by using the Renova pump, they could cut the procedure time down by almost half. She says that hiring an advanced practice provider (APP) that was designated to paracentesis was key to improving the efficiency of the daily IR workflow. The other advantage to Renova is its portability. She says that this helped her get paracenteses out of procedure rooms because the APP can now do paracenteses anywhere, even at the bedside for an inpatient.

We end by discussing recommendations for IRs who are interested in improving efficiency in their practices. Dr. Brown says that the key is to make the case to administrators or purchasers that procedure room time is money. By speeding up the process for paracentesis, she has also been able to increase the number of paracenteses they do per year and decrease hospital length of stay for patients who are waiting for a paracentesis before discharge, which has saved both time and money.

Resources

Disclaimer: The Materials available on BackTable.com are for informational and educational purposes only and are not a substitute for the professional judgment of a healthcare professional in diagnosing and treating patients. The opinions expressed by participants of the BackTable Podcast belong solely to the participants, and do not necessarily reflect the views of BackTable.

backtable-plus-vi-cta.jpg
Become a BackTable Sponsor

Up Next

Celebrating 500 Episodes of BackTable with the BT hosts on the BackTable VI Podcast)
Portal Hypertension Treatment Strategies: IR & Hepatology Perspectives  with Dr. Thomas Leventhal and Dr. Siobhan Flanagan on the BackTable VI Podcast)
Early Days and Evolution of the TIPS Procedure with Dr. Richard Saxon on the BackTable VI Podcast)
TIPS with ICE Guidance with Dr. Merve Ozen on the BackTable VI Podcast)
How I Place Nephrostomy Tubes with Dr. Aaron Fritts on the BackTable VI Podcast)
Iliofemoral Stenting: Decision-Making & Best Practices Explored with Dr. Kush Desai and Dr. Steven Abramowitz on the BackTable VI Podcast)

Articles

Topics

Ascites Condition Overview
Paracentesis Procedure Steps
Portal Hypertension Condition Overview

Get in touch!

We want to hear from you. Let us know if you’re interested in partnering with BackTable as a Podcast guest, a sponsor, or as a member of the BackTable Team.

Select which show(s) you would like to subscribe to:

Thanks! Message sent.

bottom of page