Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Wait Times Improving In The PRH Emergency Department
PEMBROKE – In the past year, the average wait time for low acuity patients in the Pembroke Regional Hospital’s Emergency Department has dropped from three hours to one.
For the same time period, the length of stay in the ED for a patient waiting for a hospital bed has been reduced by approximately 12 hours.
Overall, patients are receiving the same exemplary service but at a much quicker pace thanks to the introduction of new quality improvement initiatives designed to improve patient flow.
In the past five months alone, a total of 38 staff-generated initiatives have been implemented in the ED including better organization of supplies and equipment in the work environment, printer relocation, the installation of additional computers, and use of redesigned forms, among other things.
“Until this point, staff had ideas on how to improve efficiency but there was no dedicated time or resources to be able to address those ideas and make the changes,” said Francois Lemaire, Vice-President of Patient Services – Acute Care and Chief Nursing Executive.
Now, using the LEAN philosophy, a process to help identify and eliminate wasted steps derived from the Toyota Production System, staff have been empowered to take the ideas they had before and move forward with the changes on their own, Mr. Lemaire said. “Now they have ideas and we say – just do it!”
“The result has been the ability to provide faster and more efficient care, which reduces the pressures on the department as a whole. Staff and physicians are fully engaged in the process,” he said.
Another substantial reduction in wait time has been realized in the time it takes for a new patient to occupy a bed from the point when the previous patient was discharged from the unit.
On average this transition used to take 213 minutes. Thanks to a review of processes and a collaborative effort involving housekeeping, admitting staff, the Emergency Department and the clinical units, that turnaround time has been reduced to an average of 52 minutes.
Mr. Lemaire also cited continued success with the addition of “Zone B”, an expanded area of the hospital’s Emergency Department with additional physician and nursing resources in which those patients with simpler, lower acuity issues may be seen.
“All that we are doing is about daily quality improvement,” said Mr. Lemaire. “Each day we ask ourselves – is there a way to improve? And the answer is always yes. With the same resources we’re creating more value for our patients and our patients are seeing a difference,” he said.
The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s Pay for Results ranking which is based on five indicators covering wait times and admissions is also reflecting these changes. Based on statistics from January to August of this year, the Pembroke Regional Hospital has experienced a 35% improvement in its ranking among 74 hospitals.
Hospital President and CEO Pierre Noel said the fact that the same level of quality care is being provided in a faster, more efficient manner is gaining positive recognition within the community and the measures taken to achieve this are not only benefitting patients, but they are also easing the pressure on staff.
“Recognizing that this isn’t just a project, it’s a process and a cultural shift in the way we do things, the positive changes made so far are just the beginning and we now have the tools to continuously improve the care we deliver to patients for weeks, months and years to come,” Mr. Noel said.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Carolyn Levesque, Public Affairs and Communications Coordinator
Pembroke Regional Hospital
(613) 732-3675, ext. 6165 / carolyn.levesque@pemreghos.org
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