title: Acuity-adaptable patient room improves length of stay and cost of patients undergoing renal transplant: a pilot study.
abstract: The acuity-adaptable patient room concept is an emerging care model where patient is cared for in the same room from admission through discharge regardless of the patient level of acuity. After implementation of the care cluster strategy to support the implementation of an acuity-adaptable patient room, a descriptive study was conducted looking at so whether there will be a decreased length of stay and cost on patient cared for in the acuity-adaptable patient room compared to patients cared for in a transitional care process. Result of the study showed decreased length of stay of kidney transplant patients from 9.6 (11.0) days (before acuity-adaptable patient room) to 4.1 (1.3) days (acuity-adaptable patient room). Not only that the acuity-adaptable patient room improves patient outcome and cost but with the nursing competency preparation to support the implementation of the acuity-adaptable patient room, a hybrid nurse was created who possessed both critical care and medical-surgical skills. This can be a potential trend in the professional nurse model to address the health care challenges we face today in terms of nursing shortage, abbreviated plan of care, and facility operation efficiency.
authors.affiliation: The Center for Professional Excellence, The Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. nbonuel@tmhs.org
authors.forename: Nena
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bonuel
authors.forename: Alma
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Degracia
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cesario
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000628:therapy*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D024802:Nurse's Role; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D062072:Patient Acuity; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010362:Patients' Rooms / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010865:Pilot Projects