Gross Dissection Time Values of Pathologists' Assistants Using Standardized Metrics.
OBJECTIVES
A validated and objective method to quantify the gross dissection time of pathologists' assistants (PAs) does not exist. We propose a method to calculate standardized work units (dissection time values [DTVs]) to monitor PA productivity.


METHODS
The Current Procedural Terminology system specifies six levels of specimen complexity encompassing 176 unique specimen types. Using our institutional dictionary, we designated all specimen types into a priori five levels of complexity based on expected dissection time. We hypothesized that expected time could be matched prospectively with the actual measured dissection time for all specimens. Dissection time data were collected prospectively for 12,775 specimens at two tertiary academic medical centers, and work effort was converted to a numeric DTV equivalent (number of minutes to dissect single specimen/420 minutes in a working day).


RESULTS
For 44 of 155 specimen types, measured dissection time for the five "levels" was lower than expected dissection (P < .0001). Accordingly, those 44 specimen types were reclassified to a lower level.


CONCLUSIONS
A numeric standard of the work effort for dissection time for 155 specimen types was developed, validated, and then used prospectively to monitor grossing efficiency of PA workforce.
['Volel|Vladimir|V|', 'Kothari|Tarush|T|', 'Groppi|Diane|D|', 'Alexis|Claudine|C|', 'Ragnauth|Mike|M|', 'Qureshi|Raheela|R|', 'Entin|Amy|A|', 'Alexander|Amy|A|', 'Yaskiv|Oksana|O|', 'Crawford|James M|JM|', 'Kohn|Nina|N|', 'Bhuiya|Tawfiqul|T|']
D004210:Dissection D006801:Humans D000072142:Pathologists D010823:Physician Assistants D013048:Specimen Handling D013997:Time Factors
Productivity Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) Gross dissection time (DTV) Gross examination Pathologists’ assistants (PAs) Surgical pathology