title: Connecting the dots. Patient flow systems are being leveraged to increase throughput, improve communication, and provide a more complete view of care.
abstract: Hospitals are experiencing significant improvements in throughput and efficiency with patient flow and bed management systems. Patient flow systems are being leveraged to clinicians with a complete picture of the status of a particular room or patient at any given time. This in turn can help clinicians prioritize their work and turn over beds more quickly. Most patient flow systems interface with clinical information systems, laboratory systems and other systems, and require little involvement from the IT department. With many hospitals feeling economic pressure, systems that can help better manage patient flow can impact the bottom line.
authors.forename: Kate Huvane
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Gamble
mesh_terms: D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D006747:Hospital Communication Systems; D006751:Hospital Information Systems / Q000458:organization & administration; D010360:Patient Transfer / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D016730:Program Development