COVID-19 Has Created New ED Capacity Challenges
The COVID-19 crisis has added new challenges and an additional level of unpredictability to traditional ED triage. Suspected and confirmed COVID-19 cases must be quickly separated from the rest of the patient population. Boarding patients in the ED becomes an even more problematic patient safety concern as well, but it may be unavoidable if inpatient capacity is not available.
In light of the new capacity challenges hospitals are facing, it is more important than ever that they are able deal with the influx of patients to the ED appropriately and get them to the appropriate care setting in the safest and fastest way possible.
As hospitals and health systems struggle to deal with unexpected surges/declines, both patients and caregivers suffer. So, what can your hospital do to flexibly manage capacity, decrease ER admission wait times and prepare for changes in patient volume?
The COVID-19 crisis has added new challenges and an additional level of unpredictability to traditional ED triage. Suspected and confirmed COVID-19 cases must be quickly separated from the rest of the patient population. Boarding patients in the ED becomes an even more problematic patient safety concern as well, but it may be unavoidable if inpatient capacity is not available.
In light of the new capacity challenges hospitals are facing, it is more important than ever that they are able deal with the influx of patients to the ED appropriately and get them to the appropriate care setting in the safest and fastest way possible.
As hospitals and health systems struggle to deal with unexpected surges/declines, both patients and caregivers suffer. So, what can your hospital do to flexibly manage capacity, decrease ER admission wait times and prepare for changes in patient volume?
How do you start?
Establishing an Operational Command Center is One of the Most Effective Places to Start
The first step is the establishment of an operational command center hub to manage patient throughput and flow activities and facilitate streamlined communication across multiple roles throughout the organization.
Unlike the incident command centers that many hospitals have put in place during the COVID-19 crisis, the operational command center hub is not a temporary solution which is dismantled as the crisis ends. It is a permanent part of the hospital's operations moving forward. To be effective, it must:
Through a partnership with Care Logistics, the CEO Advisory Network includes the Care Logistics Core Command solution to rapidly deploy the Operational Command Center Hub within as few as 90 days from initiation.
The first step is the establishment of an operational command center hub to manage patient throughput and flow activities and facilitate streamlined communication across multiple roles throughout the organization.
Unlike the incident command centers that many hospitals have put in place during the COVID-19 crisis, the operational command center hub is not a temporary solution which is dismantled as the crisis ends. It is a permanent part of the hospital's operations moving forward. To be effective, it must:
- Leverage existing tech in a coordinated and centralized manner – not through a patchwork approach
- Put decision makers in the driver's seat, consolidate siloed operations
- Improve visibility to your data, prepare for capacity changes due to surges and downturns
Through a partnership with Care Logistics, the CEO Advisory Network includes the Care Logistics Core Command solution to rapidly deploy the Operational Command Center Hub within as few as 90 days from initiation.
How does this relate to the ED?
ED and Command Center Hub Processes Joined
The second step is to closely tie the ED to the Operational Command Center Hub. This starts in the ED with anticipating the individual patient’s need for admission and identifying possible units where that patient can be moved. This only works with established processes and clear communication between the ED and the Hub.
Once the ED identifies the anticipated admission and estimated time for the patient to be ready to move to an inpatient unit, the Hub then identifies and reserves an appropriate bed for the patient. Bi-directional communication is crucial at this point. The ED must know when the bed is available and the Hub must be aware of patient readiness.
Success all depends on the availability of inpatient beds. This is another area where the Command Center Hub is crucial as both EVS and transport are co-located in the command center and carefully coordinated based on the demand for beds and patient transport.
In addition, the Command Center Hub is the main coordination center for timely and appropriate patient discharge. Without this coordination, discharges are delayed due to operational inefficiencies and inpatient beds do not become available when they are needed.
The second step is to closely tie the ED to the Operational Command Center Hub. This starts in the ED with anticipating the individual patient’s need for admission and identifying possible units where that patient can be moved. This only works with established processes and clear communication between the ED and the Hub.
Once the ED identifies the anticipated admission and estimated time for the patient to be ready to move to an inpatient unit, the Hub then identifies and reserves an appropriate bed for the patient. Bi-directional communication is crucial at this point. The ED must know when the bed is available and the Hub must be aware of patient readiness.
Success all depends on the availability of inpatient beds. This is another area where the Command Center Hub is crucial as both EVS and transport are co-located in the command center and carefully coordinated based on the demand for beds and patient transport.
In addition, the Command Center Hub is the main coordination center for timely and appropriate patient discharge. Without this coordination, discharges are delayed due to operational inefficiencies and inpatient beds do not become available when they are needed.
What is an Operational Command Center?
We Can Customize it to Fit Your Organization
KLAS, Operational Command Centers 2018: An Underutilized Approach To Improving Efficiency And Outcomes, page 4
What results can you expect?
Improvement in Metrics that Matter
The Experience to Solve Your ED Capacity Challenges
David Jimenez
Senior Partner |
David is an accomplished executive with a proven track record in clinical transformation. Named by Modern Healthcare among the Top 25 Minority Healthcare Executives and the 100 Most Powerful People in Healthcare, David has held a number of prominent healthcare positions including COO for Catholic Healthcare Partners, now known as Mercy Health, which operates 23 hospitals across Ohio & Kentucky. David was elected in 2007 a Regent-at-Large for American College of Healthcare Executives. He has leveraged his hospital CEO experience to transform quality, finance, and operations through extensive work with system governance structures. David is a Fellow of The American College of Healthcare Executives. |
To Speak to David Jimenez about our ED and Operational Command Center Solution click here.
Read More About the ED and Capacity Management
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"Ready, Set, Stall? Three Strategies to Reduce ED Boarding and Get Patients to the Most Appropriate Care Setting Faster." by Page Etzler RN, PhD, MBA, FACHE 3 Keys to Driving On-Time Discharges |
"Discharge Delays Creating Rush Hour in the ED? Put Patient Progression in the Express Lane" by Bob Gleason-Moore, RN, MN |
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