Developing dashboards for performance improvement in cytopathology

•We created individualized cytopathologist and cytotechnologist dashboards that allow confidential, real-time visualization and on-demand feedback on quality metrics. Data can be viewed as far back as 10 years. The dashboards display several gynecologic and nongynecologic metrics: the ASCUS:SIL ratio; the HPV+ ASCUS rate; the proportion of AUS/FLUS thyroid interpretations; the percentage of Papanicolaou tests referred for cytopathologist review; and the percentage of Papanicolaou tests interpreted as unsatisfactory. Established professional benchmarks or standard deviations were used to set color-coded “goal,” “borderline,” and “attention” zones. The laboratory director has a unique link that allows the director access to results for each individual and the laboratory in aggregate. We anticipate that the timely feedback allowed by these dashboards will lead to increased cytopathologist and cytotechnologist engagement in personal and laboratory-wide improvement.