Document Type
A3
Publication Date
10-2018
Institution/Department
Internal Medicine, Maine Medical Center
MeSH Headings
algorithms, hospital, discharge, emergency department, academic medical center, patient care, root cause, goals, readmission
Abstract
CREATING ALGORITHMS TO INCREASE THE NUMBERS OF HOSPITAL MORNING DISCHARGES RESULTING IN IMPROVED PATIENT FLOW
Discharging a percentage of patients early in the day helps to improve patient flow. This results in a reduction of Emergency Department congestion as well as peaks in patient numbers in the early to late afternoon on patient care units.
A cardiac unit in an academic tertiary medical center created a goal to increase the number of their discharges by 11 AM and to streamline key discharge planning activities. A root cause analysis was initiated and after identifying several barriers, two KPIs were developed using improvement measures of operational excellence. Post KPI inception, metric goals were exceeded within the established timeline.
Next steps include reviewing DRG specific readmission rates to make sure there are no negative impacts as a result of the established countermeasures. In addition, the unit will provide coaches for other care units interested in adopting these strategies.
Recommended Citation
Palleschi, Cathy; Inman, Cecilia; Weightman, Erica; Powers, James B.; Tyzik, Stephen; Moody, Joy; Parker, Mark; Nayak, Suneela; Hanselman, Ruth; and Sparks, Amy, "Strategies to Increase Early Discharges to Reduce Avoidable Patient Days and Improve Patient Flow" (2018). Operations Transformation. 14.
https://knowledgeconnection.mainehealth.org/opex/14