The application of quality improvement tools to increase the number of day-only admissions: a rural hospital's experience.
Hospital discharge data were analysed and showed Tamworth Base Hospital as having fewer day-only admissions compared to similar hospitals. A team of ten staff involved in all aspects of day-only patient transactions was selected to analyse work processes associated with the day-only patient system with the aim of increasing the number of day-only admissions. From the application of quality improvement tools, the team was able to make recommendations to increase the work flow and predict resources necessary to increase day-surgery throughput. A revised system allowing for an increase in the number of admissions has been introduced; this has seen a significant increase in the number of people admitted as day-only patients. A telephone survey following discharge of day-surgery patients indicates that standards of care have been maintained and improved.
Turner
R
R
North West Health Service, Tamworth, NSW, Australia.
Dennis
R
R
D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006780:Hospitals, Rural / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized; D009517:New South Wales; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D010343:Patient Admission; D010348:Patient Care Team; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*