Optimizing Courier Specimen Collection Time Improves Patient Access to Viral Load Testing in South Africa

Girdwood, Sarah; Crompton, Thomas; Cassim, Naseem; Olsen, Floyd; Sejake, Portia; Diallo, Karidia; Berrie, Leigh; Chimhamhiwa, Dorman; Stevens, Wendy; Nichols, Brooke E

doi:10.2139/ssrn.3829643

Cited by 2 publications

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“…An unpublished local study has shown that HIV viral load testing access is dependent upon the time of courier collection and that optimising the network and delaying collection to 14h35 increased patient access to same-day blood draws by between 7% and 15%, depending on the patient-flow distribution at health facilities. [31] This courier collection data could be collated and used to further optimise the network to ensure that same-day blood draws become the standard of care.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the cost and utilization of SMS printers by primary health care facilities: lessons learned from South Africa

Cassim

Olsen

Stewart-Isherwood

et al. 2023

J. Public Health Afr.

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Background. Historically, paper-based laboratory reports were delivered by couriers to health facilities resulting in post-analytical delays. As a result, Short Message Service (SMS) printers were deployed to address this gap, the majority using the global data service platform (GDSP) to simplify deployment. In addition, these printers generate binary and quantitative information that can be used to assess utilization. Objectives. The objective of this study was to determine the costs and utilization of the SMS printer program in South Africa. Materials and Methods. A costing analysis for the 2020 calendar year was undertaken. We determined annual equivalent costs (AEC) for staffing, printers, fixed costs related to the national coordinator, consumables, travel costs, database support/hosting/dashboard development, printer repairs, and results transmission. The main outcome of interest was the cost per SMS printer result delivered. Data were extracted to assess utilization as follows: (i) months active (based on internet protocol data), (ii) signal, and (iii) battery strength. Results. There were 4,450,116 results delivered to printers that were situated at 2,232 primary healthcare facilities. An AEC of $687,727 was reported, with a cost per result delivered of $0.1618. The SMS printers contributed 73.52% to the total AEC. Overall, 90% of the printers were GDSP based, of which only 69.5% were determined to be active. The majority of active printers reported a signal strength ≥60% and a battery strength of ≥6 volts. Conclusions. Although the SMS printer program has the potential to reduce post-analytical delays, pathology services should migrate to an end-to-end electronic interface to improve patient care.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing the cost and utilization of SMS printers by primary health care facilities: lessons learned from South Africa

Cassim

Olsen

Stewart-Isherwood

et al. 2023

J. Public Health Afr.

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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Bringing Data Analytics to the Design of Optimized Diagnostic Networks in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Process, Terms and Definitions

et al. 2020

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Diagnostics services are an essential component of healthcare systems, advancing universal health coverage and ensuring global health security, but are often unavailable or under-resourced in low- and middle-income (LMIC) countries. Typically, diagnostics are delivered at various tiers of the laboratory network based on population needs, and resource and infrastructure constraints. A diagnostic network additionally incorporates screening and includes point-of-care testing that may occur outside of a laboratory in the community and clinic settings; it also emphasizes the importance of supportive network elements, including specimen referral systems, as being critical for the functioning of the diagnostic network. To date, design and planning of diagnostic networks in LMICs has largely been driven by infectious diseases such as TB and HIV, relying on manual methods and expert consensus, with a limited application of data analytics. Recently, there have been efforts to improve diagnostic network planning, including diagnostic network optimization (DNO). The DNO process involves the collection, mapping, and spatial analysis of baseline data; selection and development of scenarios to model and optimize; and lastly, implementing changes and measuring impact. This review outlines the goals of DNO and steps in the process, and provides clarity on commonly used terms.

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Optimizing Courier Specimen Collection Time Improves Patient Access to Viral Load Testing in South Africa

Cited by 2 publications

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Assessing the cost and utilization of SMS printers by primary health care facilities: lessons learned from South Africa

Assessing the cost and utilization of SMS printers by primary health care facilities: lessons learned from South Africa

Bringing Data Analytics to the Design of Optimized Diagnostic Networks in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Process, Terms and Definitions

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