A new project at Parkland Memorial Hospital has cut the wait time between the decision to admit an ED patient and the time he or she is situated in a bed from three hours to one. The improvements market the first time separate departments have worked together to speed patient care at the public hospital. This follows on past efficiency projects in which, for example, diagnostic imaging was relocated near the ED.
The project, which fosters closer cooperation between internal medicine and emergency department physicians and nurses, hasn't yet cost the hospital any money, though administrators are looking at adding a full-time employee to collect and analyze related data.
To learn more about the project:
- read this Dallas Business Journal article [1]
Related Articles:
ED boarding major issue for NY-area hospitals. Report [2]
Improving ED overcrowding. Column [3]
Congress takes on ED overcrowding. Report [4]
Some ED overcrowding solutions. Column [5]
Links:
[1] http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2007/09/10/story9.html?b=1189396800^1517447
[2] http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/ed-boarding-major-issue-for-ny-area-hospitals/2007-06-11
[3] http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/improving-er-overcrowding/2006-09-26
[4] http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/congress-takes-on-er-overcrowding/2006-09-28
[5] http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/editor-s-corner/2006-09-22