Situation
A two-campus, 1541 bed academic medical center experiences challenges with maximizing bed availability, transfers and ED admissions.
“Off the shelf” command center products are available from national vendors but the choice is made to build EPIC functionality.
Background
An essential element of the “precision hospital” is the use of its most expensive and valuable resource – the inpatient bed.
Bed utilization challenges are exacerbated when successful program development, physician recruitment and signature programs for tertiary and quaternary care are prominent.
This AMC had major challenges in bed turnover and availability, and teamwork logistics – even with an automated bed management system in place.
Execution
• Using EPIC data feeds and capabilities, the fully functional capacity coordination system was launched.
• The system provided real time and accurate monitoring of all critical care and routine beds, scheduled admissions and planned OR cases, ED activity including boarders and patients awaiting bed placement by type, as well as key metrics for utilization of ORs, PACU beds and interventional labs.
• What was truly unique about this solution was that the data displays were connected to a redesigned physical space which physically grouped and positioned the team members needed to execute on patient flow.
• This paradigm changed the entire concept of how the “operations center” needed to be structured to become a major AMC, and function as a safety net quaternary center that never refused transfers.
Results
The expense of purchasing off-the-shelf technology was avoided.
Key metrics supporting patient flow and bed turnover have seen dramatic improvement and a true “operations center” mindset, combining technology and leadership transformation, has been achieved and sustained.