Improving patient flow through applying lean concepts to emergency department

Leadership in Health Services
Hossam Elamir

Abstract

Purpose This paper aims to propose lean-based interventions that address the main causes of emergency department overcrowding. Emergency department overcrowding (EDOC) and increased length of stay (LOS) have been key global issues for more than 20 years, as they have serious repercussions. No measurements have been done to assess the situation nationally. Expanding emergency departments (EDs) and adding more beds have never succeeded in eliminating wastes and targeting the root causes of the problem. Design/methodology/approach This paper is a quantitative analytical applied research. The paper used direct observation for seven days to collect patient flow data on ED patients at a secondary care hospital in Kuwait. It calculated wait times and services to identify the major causes of EDOC and increased LOS. Findings Around one-third of the ED design capacity was used by 12 per cent of the patients who stayed >6 h each. The wasted waiting time represents 56.2 per cent of the aggregated LOS, which puts lean management (LM) on the top of the process reengineering approaches suitable for improving overcrowding by reducing waste. Guided by the LM concepts, the paper proposes solutions that fall into three themes. The selected soluti...Continue Reading

References

Jan 13, 2006·The Journal of Clinical Hypertension·Seth R BenderJohn D Bisognano
Nov 15, 2007·Clinical Nurse Specialist CNS·UNKNOWN National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists
Oct 3, 2009·Annals of Emergency Medicine·Leora I HorwitzElizabeth H Bradley
Oct 1, 2006·Expert Review of Pharmacoeconomics & Outcomes Research·Barbara K Redman
Oct 5, 2010·The Journal of Emergency Medicine·Emilie S PowellGilles Reinhardt
Nov 3, 2010·Annals of Emergency Medicine·Richard J Holden
Mar 19, 2011·Social Science & Medicine·Zoe J RadnorJustin Waring
Apr 5, 2011·Critical Care : the Official Journal of the Critical Care Forum·Roberto ForeroKen Hillman
Sep 18, 2012·Acta Physiologica Hungarica·J P LoennekeM G Bemben
Jan 1, 2013·Mayo Clinic Proceedings·John S Toussaint, Leonard L Berry
Jun 5, 2013·International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance·Nicola Burgess, Zoe Radnor
Oct 26, 2013·International Journal of Emergency Medicine·Christien van der LindenJohn R Richards
Nov 2, 2013·CJEM·Andrew AffleckHoward J Ovens
Dec 21, 2013·Journal of Nursing Scholarship : an Official Publication of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing·Eileen J CarterElaine L Larson
May 21, 2014·Academic Emergency Medicine : Official Journal of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine·Bryn E MummaJames F Holmes
Jul 30, 2014·Journal of Health Organization and Management·S Al-BalushiR Al Abri
Jul 30, 2014·Journal of Health Organization and Management·Pamela MazzocatoCarl Savage
Oct 24, 2014·The Journal of Nursing Administration·Courtney VoseDavid Burmeister
Nov 5, 2015·Value in Health : the Journal of the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research·R BoucherP Lambert

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Aug 15, 2019·BMC Health Services Research·Wei-Min MaNeng-Li Wang
Apr 17, 2020·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Miguel Angel Ortíz-Barrios, Juan-José Alfaro-Saíz
Jun 7, 2021·BMC Medical Research Methodology·Marine DemarquetKarim Tazarourte
Aug 28, 2021·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·Miguel Angel Ortíz-BarriosDaniela Stand-González

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Software Mentioned

SPSS

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.

Related Papers

International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance
Byungjoon B J KimDawn B Kendrick
Canadian Journal of Rural Medicine : the Official Journal of the Society of Rural Physicians of Canada = Journal Canadien De La Médecine Rurale : Le Journal Officiel De La Société De Médecine Rurale Du Canada
Pria M D NippakMike VandenBroek
© 2022 Meta ULC. All rights reserved