Improving Patient Flow in the Emergency Department

Twila Burdick, MBA, Banner Health/Arizona State University, Phoenix
AHRQ Grant No. HS015921-01

Overview

By implementing a patient flow process called "Door to Doc," this project improves the safety of care for patients in the emergency department (ED) by reducing the time patients wait to be seen and by expediting admission to the most appropriate hospital unit. A toolkit contains the necessary resources for implementing operational changes, including:

• Strategies for "Door to Doc" re-design principles.
• Multidisciplinary training aids and methods.
• An actionable communication plan.

Target Audience

Emergency department staff, physicians, nurses, quality and safety professionals.

Health Care Setting

Emergency departments.

Toolkit Web Site

http://www.bannerhealthinnovations.org/DoortoDoc/Download+D2D+Toolkit.htm

Press Releases

AHRQ Awards More Than $8 Million To Further Implementation of Evidence-Based Patient Safety Findings
June 8, 2005

Podcasts

New Toolkit Helps Hospitals Provide Safer, Efficient ER Care
http://healthcare411.ahrq.gov/featureAudio.aspx?id=898

Impact Case Studies

Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital — Posted January 2010
http://www.ahrq.gov/about/casestudies/ptsafety/ps2010c.htm

Fairview Southdale Hospital — Posted January 2010
http://www.ahrq.gov/about/casestudies/ptsafety/ps2010b.htm

Bon Secours St. Mary's Hospital — Posted November 2009
http://www.ahrq.gov/about/casestudies/ptsafety/ps2010.htm

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