ED Management 2004-10-01

When disaster strikes: Treating patients when your department shuts down

In this special package on responding to unexpected events, we take a look at how ED managers should plan for disasters natural or otherwise that can stretch your resources and your nerves beyond their normal limits. We consider the challenge of treating patients when there is no longer an ED, as was the case at one hospital after Hurricane Charley.

Space, staff key concerns in ED surge capacity plans

One of the key challenges for ED managers when faced with a communitywide health crisis be it terrorism, infectious disease, or natural disaster is surge capacity.

ED managers should interface with community

While health care facility surge capacity is the prime concern of ED managers, it is also important for them to interface with community officials both before and after a major disastrous event.

AHRQ tool can help EDs locate alternative sites

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has released a tool to help quickly locate alternate health care sites if hospitals are overwhelmed by patients due to a bioterrorism attack or other public health emergency.

ED sees 50% reduction in time from triage to ED bed

In this first part of a two-part series on benchmarking, we tell you about two hospitals that achieved dramatic reductions in length of stay (LOS). Next month, we discuss how to speed up admissions by addressing virtual capacity issues with the entire hospital.)

Child life services can provide competitive edge

If your ED handles 15,000 to 20,000 pediatric patients a year, it might be time to consider adding a child life specialist to your staff. These specialists, say observers, can increase cooperation and compliance with medical staff, can prove invaluable in pain management, significantly improve patient and family satisfaction, and set you apart from the competition.

Daily satisfaction surveys yield weekly improvements

ED management and staff at Fairfield Medical Center in Lancaster, OH, have improved both internal and external customer satisfaction by instituting a system of daily satisfaction surveys. Patient satisfaction is now at 95%, and physician satisfaction is above 90%, when they had both been at about 80% to 85%.

ED Management – October 1, 2004

October 1, 2004