Cable, James
(2017)
Patient flow analysis at Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC.
Master Essay, University of Pittsburgh.
This is the latest version of this item.
Abstract
As the number of hospital visits increases, patients across the U.S. are experiencing longer wait times before being transferred to an inpatient unit. Hold hours in emergency rooms (ED) and post-operative care units (PACU) are defined as the period of time where patients are prepared to be transferred but cannot because the receiving unit is at capacity. Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC has seen an increase in hold hours in both their PACU and ED because inpatient units are usually at 95% of capacity. Total hold hours over a two-week period typically range from 70 to 130 hours, with the all-time high reaching 250 hours. Accrediting agencies, such as the Joint Commission and the Institute of Medicine have identified hold hours as a public health problem, because hold hours lead to poorer patient outcomes as well as lower patient satisfaction scores. After consideration, Magee executives and staff identified ineffective discharge processes, with patient transportation being a primary factor, as the cause of the bottlenecks being created in both the PACU and ED. This report analyzes ways to increase transport efficiencies so that wait times that patients are currently experiencing once they have been cleared for discharge can be reduced. Observations and data were collected to review the discharge process and understand where problems may be occurring. The use of patient transport communication system (Teletracking) reports were used to analyze the discharge process and proved vital in determining where processes were broken. Data logged by transporters into Teletracking was used to create a Pareto chart that shows categories of delays that include delays broken down into nursing, patient, equipment, physician and paperwork as well as miscellaneous delays. Results of the study indicate that an inefficient discharge process is causing the hold hours. Recommendations are made based on the problems noted in the analysis with an emphasis on increasing efficiency in the transport department to make the discharge process more efficient. These recommendations include increased communication between departments, implementation of a discharge unit, so patients have a place to wait after they have been discharged, and an inventory analysis to reduce time spent looking for equipment.
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Details
| Item Type: |
Other Thesis, Dissertation, or Long Paper
(Master Essay)
|
| Status: |
Unpublished |
| Creators/Authors: |
| Creators | Email | Pitt Username | ORCID  |
|---|
| Cable, James | | | |
|
| Contributors: |
| Contribution | Contributors Name | Email | Pitt Username | ORCID |
|---|
| Committee Chair | Ross, Barry | bross@pitt.edu | UNSPECIFIED | UNSPECIFIED | | Committee Member | Norman, Bryan | banorman@engr.pitt.edu | UNSPECIFIED | UNSPECIFIED |
|
| Date: |
April 2017 |
| Date Type: |
Submission |
| Publisher: |
University of Pittsburgh |
| Institution: |
University of Pittsburgh |
| Schools and Programs: |
School of Public Health > Health Policy & Management |
| Degree: |
MHA - Master of Health Administration |
| Thesis Type: |
Master Essay |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| Date Deposited: |
12 Jul 2017 16:33 |
| Last Modified: |
20 Dec 2018 00:56 |
| URI: |
http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/32171 |
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Patient flow analysis at Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC. (deposited 12 Jul 2017 16:33)
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