Loading...
Recommended Citation
Stephens B. Reducing Patient Turnaround Time from the Emergency Department to Freestanding Behavioral Health Facility. Quality Improvement podium presentation at Elevating Nursing Excellence: Purpose, Profession, Passion; Advocate Health Midwest Region Nursing Research & Professional Development Conference 2024; November 13, 2024; virtual.
Presentation Notes
Quality Improvement podium presentation at Elevating Nursing Excellence: Purpose, Profession, Passion; Advocate Health Midwest Region Nursing Research & Professional Development Conference 2024; November 13, 2024; virtual.
Abstract
Background: Mental health encounters in the emergency department have proven to have a longer length of stay compared to medical encounters, which are associated with poor safety and health outcomes. Mental health patients can experience decompensation of their condition due to the more disruptive milieu and the lack of specialized treatment in the emergency department.
Local Problem: Transferring patients to an inpatient behavioral health facility in a timely manner is of utmost importance; however, the freestanding psychiatric facility has limited resources for complex medical needs requiring medical clearance to be obtained in the emergency department. From September – December 2022, mental health patients waited an average of 836 minutes, or 13.93 hours, in the emergency department to be transferred to a freestanding behavioral health facility.
Method: By utilizing Six Sigma’s Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control methodology, a team of nurses, mental health assessors, physicians, and interdepartmental teammates aimed to redesign the care for mental health patients waiting to be transferred for inpatient psychiatric care.
By outlining process steps needed to provide safe, patient-centered outcomes, the team executed a medical review checklist and reorganized process steps. There were visual indicators added to the electronic medical record and enhanced communication to improve clinician handoffs.
Results/Conclusions: At the conclusion of the project in July – August 2023, the patient turnaround time had reduced to an average of 483 minutes, or 8.05 hours, which was a statistically significant change with a p-value equal to 0.000. During the sustainment period of November – February 2024, the patient turnaround time further decreased to an average of 331 minutes, or 5.52 hours.
Implications for Practice: Providing optimal and timely care for mental health patients must be a priority. The clinical practice changes are every clinician is aware of the mental health patients’ statuses and interventions to achieve medical clearance are prioritized.
Document Type
Oral/Podium Presentation
Publication Date
11-13-2024
Reducing Patient Turnaround Time from the Emergency Department to Freestanding Behavioral Health Facility
Background: Mental health encounters in the emergency department have proven to have a longer length of stay compared to medical encounters, which are associated with poor safety and health outcomes. Mental health patients can experience decompensation of their condition due to the more disruptive milieu and the lack of specialized treatment in the emergency department.
Local Problem: Transferring patients to an inpatient behavioral health facility in a timely manner is of utmost importance; however, the freestanding psychiatric facility has limited resources for complex medical needs requiring medical clearance to be obtained in the emergency department. From September – December 2022, mental health patients waited an average of 836 minutes, or 13.93 hours, in the emergency department to be transferred to a freestanding behavioral health facility.
Method: By utilizing Six Sigma’s Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve and Control methodology, a team of nurses, mental health assessors, physicians, and interdepartmental teammates aimed to redesign the care for mental health patients waiting to be transferred for inpatient psychiatric care.
By outlining process steps needed to provide safe, patient-centered outcomes, the team executed a medical review checklist and reorganized process steps. There were visual indicators added to the electronic medical record and enhanced communication to improve clinician handoffs.
Results/Conclusions: At the conclusion of the project in July – August 2023, the patient turnaround time had reduced to an average of 483 minutes, or 8.05 hours, which was a statistically significant change with a p-value equal to 0.000. During the sustainment period of November – February 2024, the patient turnaround time further decreased to an average of 331 minutes, or 5.52 hours.
Implications for Practice: Providing optimal and timely care for mental health patients must be a priority. The clinical practice changes are every clinician is aware of the mental health patients’ statuses and interventions to achieve medical clearance are prioritized.
Affiliations
Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center Behavioral Health