title: Discharge holding area: using inpatient beds more efficiently.
abstract: Unlike many private hospitals which are closing beds or have low census, one county hospital has an increase in the number of acutely ill patients who require admission. Frequently, bed availability is impeded by delays in final departure of discharged patients. A discharge holding area is an economical solution to expediting bed availability of discharged patients. Steps for developing such a unit and the outcomes are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Harris County Hospital District, Ben Taub General Hospital, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Ashley
mesh_terms: D001509:Bed Occupancy; D004526:Efficiency; D006268:Health Facilities; D006766:Hospitals, County / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006779:Hospitals, Public / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital; D010351:Patient Discharge; D010362:Patients' Rooms; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling; D013781:Texas