Patient Flow Enewsletter
Volume 1, Issue 2
Tuesday, January 10, 2004
In this Issue
:- Perspectives: Overcrowded ED's: More Than a Social Problem
- Best Practices: Discharge Resource Room Helps Cut ED Throughput Time in Half
- Site Interview: Former U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher on Strengthening Atlanta's Safety Net
- Innovations: Making Room in the ED by Starting with . . . Elective Surgery?
Perspectives
Overcrowded ED's: More Than a Social Problem
Many industry experts point to a list of issues outside hospitals' control as the driving force behind ED overcrowding - increased demand for services and shortages of nurses and on-call physicians. JCAHO is poised to issue new standards to deal with overcrowded ED's. From the Urgent Matters project, however, we know that committed leadership, planning and measurement can make a huge difference.
Best Practices
Discharge Resource Room Helps Cut ED Throughput Time in Half
Until recently, the Regional Medical Center in Memphis had been experiencing an ED overcrowding crisis. Within the past year, however, they've halved the ED throughput from eight hours to less than four - increasing the number of patients the ED can assist and minimizing the time patients wait for treatment.
Site Interview
Former U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher on Strengthening Atlanta's Safety Net
Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, GA like many safety net hospitals across the country, has been forced to cut jobs in order to reduce costs. Urgent Matters spoke with former U.S. Surgeon General David Satcher, MD, now the director of the National Center for Primary Care at the Morehouse School of Medicine, about the approach to strengthening Atlanta's safety net.
Innovations
Making Room in the ED by Starting with . . . Elective Surgery?
It's a common problem for many hospitals. Patients arrive in the ED who need to be admitted, but there are no available beds elsewhere in the hospital. Boston Medical Center is testing whether careful scheduling of elective surgery can "smooth" a facility's patient flow and ultimately reduce ambulance diversions.
