title: Management of an inpatient-outpatient clinic an eight-year review.
abstract: Healthcare organizations have historically separated outpatient from inpatient facilities. In order to streamline the continuity of high quality care, an outpatient burn clinic was established on our inpatient burn center in 1991. Management of the outpatient clinic required alternate staffing patterns and supply allocation plus training in managed care and third party payors. Budget decisions and health care trends affected the number of full time equivalents (FTEs). Between 1990 and 1998, a 33% RN FTE reduction occurred with an overall 22% decrease in total inpatient care providers. Clinic positions were allocated as patient volume and workload data could justify additional staff. Enhanced flexibility in assignment and use of personnel with varying skill levels led to efficient integration of inpatient and outpatient care with an overall reduction in RN FTEs. The purpose of this study is to review the changes in nursing management strategies required by this consolidation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, MetroHealth Medical Center, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio 44109-1998, USA.
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Yurko
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Coffee
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fusilero
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Yowler
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Brandt
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Fratianne
mesh_terms: D002053:Burn Units / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008329:Managed Care Programs / Q000458:organization & administration; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000600:supply & distribution; D009820:Ohio; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling; D014600:Utilization Review; D000078329:Workforce; D016526:Workload