Improving the Efficiency of an Emergency Department

Improving the Efficiency of an Emergency Department

Vincent Omachonu, Howard Gitlow
Copyright: © 2013 |Pages: 18
DOI: 10.4018/ijide.2013100102
OnDemand:
(Individual Articles)
Available
$37.50
Current Special Offers
No Current Special Offers
TOTAL SAVINGS: $37.50

Abstract

“Voice of the Stakeholder” data collected from Patients and Hospital Administrators showed that both groups believe that “time to see a doctor” is the most critical metric in an Emergency Department (ED). Further research determined that controlling “inpatient bed assignments” was the most critical in-process variable to effect the “time to see a doctor.” This paper reports a dramatic reduction in the average time a patient waits to see a doctor in an Emergency Department, as well as improvements in other key metrics.
Article Preview
Top

Methods

A project team was formed to improve the functioning of the ED in a South Florida hospital. The team consisted of representatives from the following departments: ED Medical Director, Director of ED, Triage Nurses, Registration Clerks, Radiology Staff, Information Desk Staff, Fast-Track ED Staff, Inpatient Bed Control, Information Systems, and Transportation Services.

The team developed a plan for collecting “Voice of the Stakeholder” data, as well as other data, for a Quality Function Deployment (QFD) process as follows:

  • 1.

    Identification of ED stakeholders segments

  • 2.

    Defining stakeholder requirements for each stakeholder segment

  • 3.

    Importance of each requirement to each stakeholder segment

  • 4.

    Stakeholder ratings for each requirement for each stakeholder segment

  • 5.

    Data on the performance of each technical requirement for each competitor for each stakeholder segment

  • 6.

    Improvement objectives for each stakeholder requirement for each stakeholder segment

  • 7.

    Sales point for each stakeholder requirement, that is, what level of performance is needed by our ED to obtain competitive advantage over other EDs in our area due to this technical requirement

Complete Article List

Search this Journal:
Reset
Volume 15: 1 Issue (2024): Forthcoming, Available for Pre-Order
Volume 14: 1 Issue (2023)
Volume 13: 4 Issues (2022): 1 Released, 3 Forthcoming
Volume 12: 4 Issues (2021)
Volume 11: 4 Issues (2020)
Volume 10: 4 Issues (2019)
Volume 9: 4 Issues (2018)
Volume 8: 4 Issues (2017)
Volume 7: 4 Issues (2016)
Volume 6: 4 Issues (2015)
Volume 5: 4 Issues (2014)
Volume 4: 4 Issues (2013)
Volume 3: 4 Issues (2012)
Volume 2: 4 Issues (2011)
Volume 1: 4 Issues (2010)
View Complete Journal Contents Listing