Managing Patient Flow in Hospitals: Strategies and Solutions

Edited by Eugene Litvak PhD a world-renowned leader in hospital operations redesign Foreword by noted expert Susan Dentzer then Editor-in-Chief Health Affairs and Health Policy Analyst The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer PBS TV Efficient management of patient flow remains an urgent issue for most hospitals. Emergency department crowding nurse staffing shortages and patient outcomes complication rates and even mortality rates have all been linked to shortages of hospital beds and associated stresses on staff when patient volume peaks. To compound the problem of inefficiencies and variability in patient flow health care systems face strenuous economic challenges not previously experienced. A complete revision of its predecessor Managing Patient Flow in Hospitals: Strategies and Solutions Second Edition provides hospitals with scientifically grounded methods to optimally manage patient flow and serves as an indispensable guide to effective operations management. This book will help anyone who leads or is otherwise involved in his or her hospital s efforts to improve efficiency and the flow of patients. Applying the classic patient flow management methods and tools described in this book can help to ensure that patients receive timely high-quality care; to streamline busy EDs or ICUs; to improve nursing workloads; and to safeguard the organization s overall financial health. Although this book draws on theory and practice as applied to hospitals the patient flow management methods and tools could also be adapted to ambulatory care organizations and any other nonhospital setting. After all all health care organizations face the challenge of balancing capacity and demand at every step in the care delivery process. Key Topics: Problems in patient flow management Assessing the quantitative impact or patient flow issues on patients and staff Assessing measuring and evaluating patient flow Using quantitative methods to enhance patient flow Applying strategies to manage patient flow Variability in patient flow Sustaining improvements on an ongoing basis Key Features: A combination of literature syntheses tools and methods illustrative vignettes and real-life case studies Detailed case studies that illustrate how three health care organizations have successfully improved patient flow and eased crowding Authoritative state-of-the-art tutorials Contributions from dozens of experts leaders and frontline staff Standards: Leadership (LD) Nursing (NR) Performance Improvement (PI) Setting: Critical Access Hospital Hospital Key Audience: Hospital executives Chief operating officers Chief financial officers Board members Medical officers Physicians Nurses and other clinicians Quality process improvement and productivity managers Emergency department leaders Surgery critical care and nursing operations professionals