Emergency care center turnaround time--an improvement story.
Emergency department overcrowding is a nationally recognized barrier to patient safety. Other obstacles to efficiency and adequate care in emergency rooms include lengthy patient waits and side-tracked ambulances. This article explores one community hospital's approach to significantly decreasing emergency visit turnaround times while increasing patient satisfaction.
Gelrud
Joan
J
St Mary's Hospital, Leonardtown, MD, USA. joan_gelrud@smhwecare.com
Burroughs
Helen
H
Koterwas
Joanne
J
D003441:Crowding; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008396:Maryland; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D013997:Time Factors