Case management insider. Managing length of stay using patient flow--Part 4

Managing patient flow is a complex process that includes the daily management of patient throughput and capacity issues, and also the measurement and management of monthly data indicators. These indicators touch on every department and discipline in the hospital and should be readily shared and discussed. Because patient flow management is so complicated, it will require the active participation of a steering committee as well. The department of case management cannot manage patient flow alone. No department can. It is an interdisciplinary issue and the solutions must come from the interdisciplinary team. Be sure to keep track of your daily admissions and discharges, available beds and daily bottlenecks. At the same time, look for patterns and opportunities in the data you collect to continuously improve flow over time. Stay current with The Joint Commission standards on patient flow which can be found in the leadership section of the standards. Patient flow is an old problem with a new name. Reductions in payment, and the need to continuously manage length of stay require a deep dive look at all the elements affecting your hospital's flow.