Decreasing Throughput Time
REDUCING PATIENT THROUGHPUT TIME IN EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS BY RESOLVING BOTTLENECKS Dr. NAMITA MUKHI drnamitamukhi@gmail.com PGDHM student INSTITUTE OF HEALTH MANAGEMENT RESEARCH JAIPUR
Reducing patient throughput time in emergency department by resolving bottlenecks
Abstract
Background : With increasing number of accidents and disease spectrum in today’s time , emergency departments are frequently witnessing more patient’s visits . Increasing advent of health insurance has also directed increased utilisation of health care services . Yet under the surface , there is a growing crisis brewing in the emergency departments . Emergency departments are frequently overloaded , with patients sometimes lining the hallways and waiting hours and even days to be admitted to inpatient beds . Ambulance diversions in which the overcrowded emergency departments often close their doors to incoming patients has also become a common problem .
Method : analysis of the time studies conducted on value added and non value added time of the patients being treated in the emergency department.
Result : A patient’s throughput time is the total waiting time of the patient in the hospital. Starting as soon as they walk in through the doors of the emergency department and till the patient is discharged . A patient receives care by some critical steps which add value to their time but the waiting time between these essential steps is non value added time .
Recommendations : Decreasing the non value added throughput time by identifying common bottlenecks in patient flow .Improvising and coordinating for meeting the increased demand of patients . Focussing on patient satisfaction by decreasing the throughput time . Identifying areas of bottlenecks in patient flow by mapping patient care and then improving upon timeliness of initial care , fast diagnostic procedures and speedy discharge . Forming a patient
Reducing patient throughput time in emergency department by resolving bottlenecks
Abstract
Background : With increasing number of accidents and disease spectrum in today’s time , emergency departments are frequently witnessing more patient’s visits . Increasing advent of health insurance has also directed increased utilisation of health care services . Yet under the surface , there is a growing crisis brewing in the emergency departments . Emergency departments are frequently overloaded , with patients sometimes lining the hallways and waiting hours and even days to be admitted to inpatient beds . Ambulance diversions in which the overcrowded emergency departments often close their doors to incoming patients has also become a common problem .
Method : analysis of the time studies conducted on value added and non value added time of the patients being treated in the emergency department.
Result : A patient’s throughput time is the total waiting time of the patient in the hospital. Starting as soon as they walk in through the doors of the emergency department and till the patient is discharged . A patient receives care by some critical steps which add value to their time but the waiting time between these essential steps is non value added time .
Recommendations : Decreasing the non value added throughput time by identifying common bottlenecks in patient flow .Improvising and coordinating for meeting the increased demand of patients . Focussing on patient satisfaction by decreasing the throughput time . Identifying areas of bottlenecks in patient flow by mapping patient care and then improving upon timeliness of initial care , fast diagnostic procedures and speedy discharge . Forming a patient