Why did the hospital choose HemoCue® WBC DIFF System?
Queen Silvia’s Hospital for Children was one of the first hospitals in Sweden to evaluate the HemoCue WBC DIFF System when it was launched in 2010. Already using the HemoCue WBC System, the hospital had asked for a system with a differential count of the total number white blood cells.
Younis Khalid, MD and Head of Section at the emergency room for children, has worked in various positions within the emergency care since 2007. He remembers that when starting to use the HemoCue WBC DIFF System, the staff experienced difficulties at first, but quickly began to see the benefits of having the system in place.
- To us, time saving is a critical factor, and this is why we still use the system today. Daily work flow at the emergency room includes a lot of non-value added time since a large part of the flow consists of waiting. A large benefit is the possibility to reduce any waiting time, says Younis Khalid and continues:
- We do not use HemoCue WBC DIFF for all patients. We also use CRP. However, when we do use the HemoCue WBC DIFF, we save about one hour which affects the rest of the work flow at the emergency room. Occupancy will decline and ultimately the patient safety is affected in a positive way. Today, this becomes evident when it is not possible to run the system, i.e. if we run out of microcuvettes and have to send samples to the lab instead.
- This will cause longer waiting for the patients and increase the number of patients in movement at the emergency room. A high occupancy in the emergency room reduces patient safety; therefore it is important to reduce waiting time.
When is the HemoCue® WBC DIFF System used?
Patients at the children’s hospital are treated for surgical and medical conditions.
- That’s right, and abdominal disorders (appendicitis, constipation and mesenteric adenitis) are common reasons why a patient ends up at the ER, says Younis Khalid.
- It is especially important to get quick answers for the differential count when suspecting appendicitis.
What are the benefits of using HemoCue® WBC DIFF System?
The HemoCue WBC DIFF System, based on the cuvette technology from HemoCue, is easy to use and provides a lab accurate result in within five minutes. The doctor then makes a judgment if the infection is viral or bacterial and then decides treatment instantly during the patient’s visit. Previously, you sent the sample to the lab and waited at least an hour, sometimes longer. The main objective of using the HemoCue WBC DIFF System is to accelerate the process of assessment to treatment. Using a 5-part diff gives necessary information needed in various clinical situations. To set diagnosis and start the right treatment with the patient on the spot may reduce the patient’s waiting time and thus allow more time for caregivers.