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Patient Flow Enewsletter
In this Issue :
Reports Safety Net Assessments in 10 US Communities The Urgent Matters program developed comprehensive assessments of the safety nets in 10 US communities. The assessments are designed to highlight key issues affecting access to care for uninsured and underserved residents, as well as to identify potential opportunities for improvement. The findings from the 10 individual assessments are also analyzed in a national report, providing an overarching perspective on the issues and challenges that face the health care safety net in our country. Best Practices Comprehensive Diversion Reduction Plan Improves Efficiency in Hospital Discharges Holding patients in the ED and ED closure are frustrating for staff, patients and physicians at any hospital. St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona has reduced time of ED diversions, increased hospital occupancy and improved efficiency in hospital discharges with a comprehensive diversion reduction plan. Site Interview Efforts to Develop a 'Blueprint' for Improving Health Care
Survey Results Respondents Cite Patient Flow as Number One Priority for Addressing ED Crowding In the last E-newsletter, we surveyed the hospital community about issues affecting ED crowding at their institution and the level of interest from various hospital leaders to address the problem. Survey respondents ranked hospital-wide patient flow as the number one priority for addressing ED crowding. ED administration had the highest level of interest for improving patient flow and reducing ED crowding. Innovations A Statewide Solution for a Nationwide Problem The Massachusetts Department of Public Health designated an Ambulance Diversion Task Force, representing hospital administrators, emergency physicians, ambulance providers, emergency nurses and others, which gave the local health system a needed tool that immediately reports which hospitals are on diversion in real-time. Now, local EMS providers are better able to manage the impact of ED diversion on patient transport. | |
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Local health care leaders and city officials established the Community Health Endowment of Lincoln to help improve health services throughout the Lincoln area. Coleen Seng, Mayor of Lincoln, Nebraska, talks about the 'Blueprint Project,' funded by the Endowment and first initiated in late 2001, which was designed to involve the community in identifying specific actions that would improve the health of Lincoln's most vulnerable populations.Copyright © 2002-2008 Urgent Matters. All Rights Reserved. | Subscribe | Unsubscribe | Contact Us | Privacy Policy