The 14th Annual Patient Flow Summit

Often a hospital’s busiest departments are the emergency department and other outpatient departments. In order to keep up with demand, these departments often work at full capacity and are constantly looking for innovative approaches to improve throughput. During this in-depth workshop, explore how analyzing data and using different communication methods with staff can attribute to improved throughput in an outpatient setting.

• Identify the key factors that contribute to progressive changes in patient flow, such as capacity and throughput, to determine the resources and workforce necessary
• Use a clinical data warehouse to investigate the capacity and staffing challenges that negatively impact throughput
• Analyze data that focuses on length-of-stay, time spent on labs, staffing availability, and more to optimize patient flow processes and staffing
• Hear proven-methods of provider buy-in to understand how to change the culture within a hospital setting
• Examine data from around the globe that show improved clinical outcomes linked to provider buy-in on hospital initiatives

In order to make effective change in quality and clinical metrics, care providers must focus on the discharge process to reduce the length of stay of a patient and minimize avoidable readmissions. Discover out-of-the-box methods that integrate technology, and engage the community, patient, and staff to enhance the discharge and transition process.

• Identify essential partnerships outside of the acute hospital to prevent avoidable readmissions
• Explore frequent communication challenges that most hospitals face in order to prioritize initiatives such as:
• Health literacy
• Language barriers
• Attitudinal issues
• System design
• Investigate proven communication best practices to engage the patient such as:
• “Teach back”
• “Ask me 3”
• Change Readiness
• Identify opportunities for staff collaboration improvement within the discharge process such as:
• Rounds
• Handoffs
• Data capture
• ”KISS”
• Set timing standards for treatment methods, procedures, and exams to enhance discharge efficiency
• Explore how technology such as text messages, emails, and cell phone notifications can improve efficiency and patient experience throughout the discharge process
• Review the different processes and procedures to reduce readmissions for a patient being discharged to a skilled nursing facility, rehabilitation facility, or his home
• Utilize lean tools to analyze the discharge process and develop streamlining initiatives