Optimizing Patient Flow Analysis
Innovation Series 2003
Optimizing Patient Flow
Moving Patients Smoothly Through Acute Care Settings
2
We have developed IHI’s Innovation Series white papers to further our mission of improving the quality and value of health care. The ideas and findings in these white papers represent innovative work by organizations affiliated with IHI. Our white papers are designed to share with readers the problems IHI is working to address; the ideas, changes, and methods we are developing and testing to help organizations make breakthrough improvements; and early results where they exist.
Copyright © 2003 Institute for Healthcare Improvement All rights reserved. No part of this paper may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any …show more content…
1
Optimizing Patient Flow: Moving Patients Smoothly Through Acute Care …show more content…
In considering this question, your hospital needs to look at both the frequency of “parking” patients (i.e., keeping or placing admitted patients in a “holding” location— sometimes in the ED, sometimes simply in a hallway—when they cannot be moved immediately to their intended bed or location) and hospital occupancy as key indicators. Two key questions help bring these issues into focus: 1. Do you “park” more than 2 percent of your admitted patients at some time during the day at least 50 percent of the time? Example: In a hospital with a midnight census of 500 patients, 10 patients (2 percent) were “parked” during the day, waiting for admission to the final destination bed. This occurs more than half the time during the sample period. 2. Does your hospital have a midnight census of 90 percent or more of your bed capacity more than 50 percent of the time? Example: A 500-bed hospital had more than 450 patients in the hospital at midnight (90 percent of capacity) more than half the time during the sample period. If you answer “yes” to one or both of these questions, your hospital is likely struggling with flow problems on a regular basis. “Parking” patients is a clear indication that the system is inhibiting the smooth forward movement of
Optimizing Patient Flow
Moving Patients Smoothly Through Acute Care Settings
2
We have developed IHI’s Innovation Series white papers to further our mission of improving the quality and value of health care. The ideas and findings in these white papers represent innovative work by organizations affiliated with IHI. Our white papers are designed to share with readers the problems IHI is working to address; the ideas, changes, and methods we are developing and testing to help organizations make breakthrough improvements; and early results where they exist.
Copyright © 2003 Institute for Healthcare Improvement All rights reserved. No part of this paper may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any …show more content…
1
Optimizing Patient Flow: Moving Patients Smoothly Through Acute Care …show more content…
In considering this question, your hospital needs to look at both the frequency of “parking” patients (i.e., keeping or placing admitted patients in a “holding” location— sometimes in the ED, sometimes simply in a hallway—when they cannot be moved immediately to their intended bed or location) and hospital occupancy as key indicators. Two key questions help bring these issues into focus: 1. Do you “park” more than 2 percent of your admitted patients at some time during the day at least 50 percent of the time? Example: In a hospital with a midnight census of 500 patients, 10 patients (2 percent) were “parked” during the day, waiting for admission to the final destination bed. This occurs more than half the time during the sample period. 2. Does your hospital have a midnight census of 90 percent or more of your bed capacity more than 50 percent of the time? Example: A 500-bed hospital had more than 450 patients in the hospital at midnight (90 percent of capacity) more than half the time during the sample period. If you answer “yes” to one or both of these questions, your hospital is likely struggling with flow problems on a regular basis. “Parking” patients is a clear indication that the system is inhibiting the smooth forward movement of