title: The role of a flow coordinator in an emergency assessment unit.
abstract: This article describes the rationale and change management approach used for the development and initial evaluation of a patient-flow coordinator to the Emergency Assessment Area at Birmingham Heartlands Hospital. This post was established to improve patient flow and departmental efficiency in order to achieve the latest four-hour maximum waiting-to-treatment time directive. The working context, concept, process-mapping approach, core objectives and key functions of the role are all discussed.
mesh_terms: D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004739:England; D006272:Health Facility Environment / Q000458:organization & administration; D006285:Health Planning; D006747:Hospital Communication Systems / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D009936:Organizational Innovation; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D024382:Professional Role; D015397:Program Evaluation; D014218:Triage / Q000458:organization & administration*