The Introduction of Flow Facilitators: A Targeted Wellness Initiative in the Emergency Department

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Physician Well-being
• Emergency Medicine

Background:

• Physician burnout reached record levels in the 2020s, necessitating effective interventions.
• Emergency departments (EDs) face significant challenges impacting physician well-being and patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the efficacy of flow facilitators in improving physician well-being within the ED.
• To evaluate the impact of a novel ED position on physician satisfaction and operational efficiency.

Main Methods:

• Anonymous surveys and physician meetings identified factors affecting well-being.
• Three full-time flow facilitators were hired to streamline ED logistics.
• Post-intervention surveys and objective metrics assessed changes in physician satisfaction and patient outcomes.

Main Results:

• Over 85% of physicians reported improved well-being.
• Significant reductions were observed in the time from order placement to results for CT, ultrasound, and X-ray.
• Average ED census increased, and time to admission from triage decreased.

Conclusions:

• Flow facilitators are an effective intervention for enhancing physician well-being in the ED.
• This role successfully improved diagnostic imaging turnaround times and addressed ED overcrowding concerns.