Factors Contributing to Delay in Throughput Within the Emergency Department which Influence Emergency Department Overcrowding

Factors Contributing to Delay in Throughput Within the Emergency Department which Influence Emergency Department Overcrowding PDF Author: Angela Marie Hong Smith
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781124084558
Category : Dissertations, Academic
Languages : en
Pages : 49

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Book Description
Delays in Emergency department throughput for critically ill patients are obstacles which contribute to ED overcrowding. Overcrowding in the ED can lead to compromised critical patient safety and delays in recognizing deterioration in a patient's condition and starting critical interventions. A general systems theory describing ED process as input, throughput and output was the framework used in this study. A quantitative, retrospective, electronic chart review of critically ill patients was performed to analyze interval times for patient processes performed within the ED. All adult patients admitted to critical care units from the ED during the third and fourth quarters of 2009 have been included. A sample of 50 charts were reviewed of critically ill patients admitted directly from the ED from July 1, 2009 to December 31, 2009. The knowledge gained from these findings, which were the identification of increased time spent in the ED due to an admission MD assessment plus the arrival of patients during the first shift, was found to impact ED throughput and ED overcrowding. Through the identification of these multiple factors which were found within the ED, policies on improving these delays can improve throughput process of all patients seen in the ED.

Factors Contributing to Delay in Throughput Within the Emergency Department which Influence Emergency Department Overcrowding

Factors Contributing to Delay in Throughput Within the Emergency Department which Influence Emergency Department Overcrowding PDF Author: Angela Marie Hong Smith
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781124084558
Category : Dissertations, Academic
Languages : en
Pages : 49

Get Book Here

Book Description
Delays in Emergency department throughput for critically ill patients are obstacles which contribute to ED overcrowding. Overcrowding in the ED can lead to compromised critical patient safety and delays in recognizing deterioration in a patient's condition and starting critical interventions. A general systems theory describing ED process as input, throughput and output was the framework used in this study. A quantitative, retrospective, electronic chart review of critically ill patients was performed to analyze interval times for patient processes performed within the ED. All adult patients admitted to critical care units from the ED during the third and fourth quarters of 2009 have been included. A sample of 50 charts were reviewed of critically ill patients admitted directly from the ED from July 1, 2009 to December 31, 2009. The knowledge gained from these findings, which were the identification of increased time spent in the ED due to an admission MD assessment plus the arrival of patients during the first shift, was found to impact ED throughput and ED overcrowding. Through the identification of these multiple factors which were found within the ED, policies on improving these delays can improve throughput process of all patients seen in the ED.

Optimizing Emergency Department Throughput

Optimizing Emergency Department Throughput PDF Author: John M. Shiver
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 1420084976
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 264

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Book Description
Across the country ambulances are turned away from emergency departments (EDs) and patients are waiting hours and sometimes days to be admitted to a hospital room. Hospitals are finding it hard to get specialist physicians to come to treat emergency patients. Our EDs demand a new way of thinking. They are not at a tipping point; they are at a break

Managing Overcrowding in the Emergency Department. A Review

Managing Overcrowding in the Emergency Department. A Review PDF Author: Awung Nkeze Elvis
Publisher: GRIN Verlag
ISBN: 3346929698
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 21

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Book Description
Academic Paper from the year 2023 in the subject Health - Public Health, , language: English, abstract: The aim of this paper is to pinpoint the root causes, consequences, and remedies of emergency department overpopulation. Hospital and emergency department (ED) overcrowding is a serious problem that has an impact on patient treatment and results. For the purpose of improving hospital capacity and patient flow, it is imperative to comprehend the causes of congestion. An overview of the studies on overcrowding and its effects on healthcare delivery is given in this article. These techniques can ease hospital overcrowding, improve patient flow, and decrease wait times. Additionally, recognizing and controlling hospital overpopulation has showed promise when using data analytics and predictive modeling. Hospitals can proactively allocate resources, change personnel levels, and manage patient flow to avoid congestion by studying previous data and forecasting future demand. This approach has been shown to improve patient outcomes, reduce wait times, and enhance overall hospital efficiency. Understanding overcrowding factors, bed capacity deficits, is crucial for effective strategies. Optimizing bed capacity, patient flow, and data analytics improves hospital care quality and reduces overcrowding.

Hospital-Based Emergency Care

Hospital-Based Emergency Care PDF Author: Institute of Medicine
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309133777
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 424

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Book Description
Today our emergency care system faces an epidemic of crowded emergency departments, patients boarding in hallways waiting to be admitted, and daily ambulance diversions. Hospital-Based Emergency Care addresses the difficulty of balancing the roles of hospital-based emergency and trauma care, not simply urgent and lifesaving care, but also safety net care for uninsured patients, public health surveillance, disaster preparation, and adjunct care in the face of increasing patient volume and limited resources. This new book considers the multiple aspects to the emergency care system in the United States by exploring its strengths, limitations, and future challenges. The wide range of issues covered includes: • The role and impact of the emergency department within the larger hospital and health care system. • Patient flow and information technology. • Workforce issues across multiple disciplines. • Patient safety and the quality and efficiency of emergency care services. • Basic, clinical, and health services research relevant to emergency care. • Special challenges of emergency care in rural settings. Hospital-Based Emergency Care is one of three books in the Future of Emergency Care series. This book will be of particular interest to emergency care providers, professional organizations, and policy makers looking to address the deficiencies in emergency care systems.

Hospital Emergency Departments

Hospital Emergency Departments PDF Author: Marcia Crosse
Publisher: DIANE Publishing
ISBN: 1437917429
Category : Health & Fitness
Languages : en
Pages : 58

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Book Description
Of the estimated 119 million visits to U.S. emergency depts. (ED) in 2006, over 40% were paid for by federally-supported programs -- Medicare, Medicaid, and the State Children's Health Insur. Program. There have been reports of crowded conditions in ED often associated with adverse effects on patient quality of care. In 2003, it was reported that most ED in metropolitan areas experienced some degree of crowding. For ex., two out of every three metropolitan hospitals reported going on ambulance diversion -- asking ambulances to bypass their ED and instead transport patients to other facilities. This report examined three indicators of ED crowding - -ambulance diversion, wait times, and patient boarding -- and factors that contribute to crowding. Illus.

Vignettes in Patient Safety

Vignettes in Patient Safety PDF Author: Michael S. Firstenberg
Publisher: BoD – Books on Demand
ISBN: 9535137301
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 204

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Book Description
Over the past two decades, the healthcare community increasingly recognized the importance and the impact of medical errors on patient safety and clinical outcomes. Medical and surgical errors continue to contribute to unnecessary and potentially preventable morbidity and/or mortality, affecting both ambulatory and hospital settings. The spectrum of contributing variables-ranging from minor errors that subsequently escalate to poor communication to lapses in appropriate protocols and processes (just to name a few)-is extensive, and solutions are only recently being described. As such, there is a growing body of research and experiences that can help provide an organized framework-based upon the best practices and evidence-based medical principles-for hospitals and clinics to foster patient safety culture and to develop institutional patient safety champions. Based upon the tremendous interest in the first volume of our Vignettes in Patient Safety series, this second volume follows a similar vignette-based model. Each chapter outlines a realistic case scenario designed to closely approximate experiences and clinical patterns that medical and surgical practitioners can easily relate to. Vignette presentations are then followed by an evidence-based overview of pertinent patient safety literature, relevant clinical evidence, and the formulation of preventive strategies and potential solutions that may be applicable to each corresponding scenario. Throughout the Vignettes in Patient Safety cycle, emphasis is placed on the identification and remediation of team-based and organizational factors associated with patient safety events. The second volume of the Vignettes in Patient Safety begins with an overview of recent high-impact studies in the area of patient safety. Subsequent chapters discuss a broad range of topics, including retained surgical items, wrong site procedures, disruptive healthcare workers, interhospital transfers, risks of emergency department overcrowding, dangers of inadequate handoff communication, and the association between provider fatigue and medical errors. By outlining some of the current best practices, structured experiences, and evidence-based recommendations, the authors and editors hope to provide our readers with new and significant insights into making healthcare safer for patients around the world.

Patient Flow

Patient Flow PDF Author: Randolph Hall
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 1461495121
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 547

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Book Description
This book is dedicated to improving healthcare through reducing delays experienced by patients. With an interdisciplinary approach, this new edition, divided into five sections, begins by examining healthcare as an integrated system. Chapter 1 provides a hierarchical model of healthcare, rising from departments, to centers, regions and the “macro system.” A new chapter demonstrates how to use simulation to assess the interaction of system components to achieve performance goals, and Chapter 3 provides hands-on methods for developing process models to identify and remove bottlenecks, and for developing facility plans. Section 2 addresses crowding and the consequences of delay. Two new chapters (4 and 5) focus on delays in emergency departments, and Chapter 6 then examines medical outcomes that result from waits for surgeries. Section 3 concentrates on management of demand. Chapter 7 presents breakthrough strategies that use real-time monitoring systems for continuous improvement. Chapter 8 looks at the patient appointment system, particularly through the approach of advanced access. Chapter 9 concentrates on managing waiting lists for surgeries, and Chapter 10 examines triage outside of emergency departments, with a focus on allied health programs Section 4 offers analytical tools and models to support analysis of patient flows. Chapter 11 offers techniques for scheduling staff to match patterns in patient demand. Chapter 12 surveys the literature on simulation modeling, which is widely used for both healthcare design and process improvement. Chapter 13 is new and demonstrates the use of process mapping to represent a complex regional trauma system. Chapter 14 provides methods for forecasting demand for healthcare on a region-wide basis. Chapter 15 presents queueing theory as a method for modeling waits in healthcare, and Chapter 16 focuses on rapid delivery of medication in the event of a catastrophic event. Section 5 focuses on achieving change. Chapter 17 provides a diagnostic for assessing the state of a hospital and using the state assessment to select improvement strategies. Chapter 18 demonstrates the importance of optimizing care as patients transition from one care setting to the next. Chapter 19 is new and shows how to implement programs that improve patient satisfaction while also improving flow. Chapter 20 illustrates how to evaluate the overall portfolio of patient diagnostic groups to guide system changes, and Chapter 21 provides project management tools to guide the execution of patient flow projects.

Transforming Health Care Scheduling and Access

Transforming Health Care Scheduling and Access PDF Author: Institute of Medicine
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309339227
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 226

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Book Description
According to Transforming Health Care Scheduling and Access, long waits for treatment are a function of the disjointed manner in which most health systems have evolved to accommodate the needs and the desires of doctors and administrators, rather than those of patients. The result is a health care system that deploys its most valuable resource-highly trained personnel-inefficiently, leading to an unnecessary imbalance between the demand for appointments and the supply of open appointments. This study makes the case that by using the techniques of systems engineering, new approaches to management, and increased patient and family involvement, the current health care system can move forward to one with greater focus on the preferences of patients to provide convenient, efficient, and excellent health care without the need for costly investment. Transforming Health Care Scheduling and Access identifies best practices for making significant improvements in access and system-level change. This report makes recommendations for principles and practices to improve access by promoting efficient scheduling. This study will be a valuable resource for practitioners to progress toward a more patient-focused "How can we help you today?" culture.

Factors Related to Overcrowding in the Emergency Department

Factors Related to Overcrowding in the Emergency Department PDF Author: Heather Ann Haddad
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Hospitals
Languages : en
Pages : 60

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Book Description
Abstract: Emergency departments across the nation are experiencing increased wait times, not only for patients within the ED who are eventually discharged, but also for admitted patients waiting to be transferred to their unit within the hospital. The purpose of this study was to analyze the time required to move patients through the ED from the decision to admit the patient by the ED physician, to arrival on the inpatient unit. There are some publications regarding ED overcrowding, however, few of these articles pertain specifically to delays associated with the admission process. The ED is located in a large community teaching hospital in the Midwest. This ED averages 33,500 visits annually and from those visits, approximately 5,000 patients are admitted. Data for this project were gathered using participant observation by this author. A flow chart was developed to record the time periods of interest. The average amount of time a patient has to wait from the time the decision is made to admit the patient to arrival on the unit is approximately 3 hours (mean, median, range). Approximately one and a half hours of this time lapse occurs between the arrival of the admitting physician and completion of the orders. Overall, this QA project concludes with a recommended practice change. A 2 month trial of implementing an "auto-hold" policy is suggested.

Emergency Department Leadership and Management

Emergency Department Leadership and Management PDF Author: Stephanie Kayden
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1107007399
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 375

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Book Description
Written for a global audience, by an international team, the book provides practical, case-based emergency department leadership skills.