With 778 beds, more than 70,000 inpatient admissions and more than 59,000 emergency/trauma department visits a year, Hackensack University Medical Center (HUMC) in Hackensack, New Jersey, is one of the nation’s busiest hospitals. “We often say we are the victim of our own success,” says Regina Berman, RN, MA, HUMC’s Director of Performance Improvement.
With an occupancy rate typically around 95 percent, there is little wiggle room. “We have focused very intensely on patient flow for some time now,” says Peggy McGee, RN, Performance Improvement Advisor. “We have smoothed the surgical schedule and the cath lab schedule. We’ve expanded ancillary services and test areas into evenings and weekends. And units that typically have high patient turnover have an admission/discharge nurse and clerk who facilitate those processes.”
Perhaps one of the best tools for managing flow at HUMC is the computerized bed tracking system that monitors cycle times for ancillary services and provides visual, real-time information for all staff on capacity and flow. “Now the surgery and ED staff can see the whole picture when they are trying to transfer patients to a bed,” says Regina Berman. “Admitting has a clear view of all beds. So does transport, and environmental services. They can see immediately when a bed is released; they don’t have to wait for a call.”
02/05/2007
