Engaging stakeholders to reduce Bottlenecks in the hospital
The Challenge
A large suburban hospital struggled to move patients from the emergency department to the inpatient unit after being admitted. This lack of movement, called boarding, resulted in significant wait times for patients, poor staff morale, and a mismatch of resource utilization. The hospital leadership recognized the strain this problem placed on patient and staff sentiment and, most importantly, on the quality of care being delivered to the patient.
the Solution
We took a strategic approach to process improvement, focusing on stakeholder engagement, leadership accountability, and data analytics. Using institutional historical throughput data, we reviewed key time-based intervals during the patients’ journey from evaluation by an ER physician to admission and transfer to the inpatient unit. After identifying the root causes of the departmental bottlenecks and the impact of flow barriers, we assembled a group of stakeholders that identified opportunities for improvement in their individual work streams. In May, the team kicked off the process improvement activity with daily performance reviews and tracking.
the Results
Throughput improved throughout the rest of the year. By the project’s conclusion in December, the team’s patient throughput time for admissions decreased by an average of 250 minutes.
That's 125 fewer workforce hours. The hospital also improved patient satisfaction and reduced errors and patient suffering.
To discuss how our ABIG can help your organization deliver better patient outcomes and experience, contact us.
