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Updated: Jul 3, 2026
09:52
Setting Up a Stroke Team Algorithm and Conducting Simulation-based Training in the Emergency Department - A Practical Guide
Published on: January 15, 2017
Is your patient throughput sending out an SOS?
1Health Sciences Advisory Services, Ernst & Young LLP, Dallas, USA. jimmy.mclarty@ey.com
Summary
Achieve lasting patient throughput improvements by focusing on objective assessments, leadership support, collaborative strategies, and continuous monitoring. These principles drive sustainable operational enhancements in healthcare.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare Management
- Operations Research
- Quality Improvement Science
Background:
- Patient throughput is a critical metric for healthcare efficiency.
- Persistent challenges exist in optimizing patient flow within healthcare systems.
- Sustainable improvements require a structured, principle-based approach.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify foundational principles for achieving permanent enhancements in patient throughput.
- To provide a framework for healthcare leaders to improve operational efficiency.
Main Methods:
- The study outlines three core principles derived from best practices in healthcare operations.
- Emphasis is placed on the integration of objective data and leadership commitment.
- Collaborative, multi-faceted improvement strategies are highlighted.
Main Results:
- Objective assessment and leadership buy-in are essential for initial progress.
- The application of multiple, collaborative improvement approaches fosters sustained momentum.
- Ongoing recognition and monitoring are crucial for maintaining long-term gains.
Conclusions:
- Permanent improvements in patient throughput are attainable through a systematic application of key principles.
- Leadership engagement and data-driven decision-making are paramount.
- A culture of continuous improvement, supported by monitoring, ensures lasting success.
Related Concept Videos
01:29SBAR I: Understanding the Concept
Effective communication among healthcare professionals during hand-off reporting is essential to delivering safe and continuous patient care. Common professional interactions include reports to healthcare team members, hand-off, and transfer reports. Nurses routinely report information to other healthcare team members and also urgently contact healthcare providers to report changes in patient status.
Standardized methods of communication have been developed to ensure that information is...
Standardized methods of communication have been developed to ensure that information is...
01:14SBAR II: Application of SBAR
SBAR is an effective communication tool used by healthcare professionals to communicate patient information accurately. SBAR stands for Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendation. For a better understanding, an example is given below.
SBAR Report from a Nurse to a Health Care Provider
S: "Hello, Dr. Smith. This is Jane, RN, from the Med Surg unit. I am calling to tell you about Ms. White in Room 210, who is experiencing increased pain and redness at her incision site. Her recent...
SBAR Report from a Nurse to a Health Care Provider
S: "Hello, Dr. Smith. This is Jane, RN, from the Med Surg unit. I am calling to tell you about Ms. White in Room 210, who is experiencing increased pain and redness at her incision site. Her recent...
01:24Pulse Oximetry
Pulse oximetry, or SpO2, is a non-invasive method for continuously monitoring arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2). This procedure involves attaching a probe or sensor to the patient's fingertip, forehead, earlobe, or nose bridge. The sensor works by detecting changes in oxygen saturation levels through light signals generated by the oximeter and reflected by the pulsing blood under the probe.
Purpose
Average SpO2 values are greater than 95%. If the readings fall below 90%, it indicates that...
Purpose
Average SpO2 values are greater than 95%. If the readings fall below 90%, it indicates that...
01:30Pulse rhythm
Pulse rhythm refers to the pattern of pulsations within specific intervals, offering valuable insights into the regularity or irregularity of the heart's beats as observed through the pattern of pulsation within specific intervals. A regular pulse exhibits a consistent heart rate with uniform waveforms and pulsation force, variations of which can be classified as normal, weak, or bounding.
Conversely, an irregular pulse pattern is termed dysrhythmia, stemming from disruptions in cardiac muscle...
Conversely, an irregular pulse pattern is termed dysrhythmia, stemming from disruptions in cardiac muscle...
01:26Types of Reports III: Telephone and Verbal Reports
Telephone and Verbal Reports in healthcare settings are two communication methods for conveying therapeutic instructions from healthcare providers to nurses or other healthcare staff.
Here's an overview of each type:
Telephone Orders
Here's an overview of each type:
Telephone Orders
01:25Types of Reports I: Hand-off Report
A hand-off report, also known as a change-of-shift report, is a crucial nursing process that ensures the smooth transition of patient care responsibilities between nursing staff.
Following are the key components and categories of hand-off reports:
Purpose and Process:
Following are the key components and categories of hand-off reports:
Purpose and Process: