title: Impact of throughput optimization on intensive care unit occupancy.
abstract: Intensive care unit (ICU) resources are scarce, yet demand is increasing at a rapid rate. Optimizing throughput efficiency while balancing patient safety and quality of care is of utmost importance during times of high ICU utilization. Continuous improvement methodology was used to develop a multidisciplinary workflow to improve throughput in the ICU while maintaining a high quality of care and minimizing adverse outcomes. The research team was able to decrease ICU occupancy and therefore ICU length of stay by implementing this process without increasing mortality or readmissions to the ICU. By improving throughput efficiency, more patients were able to be provided with care in the ICU.
authors.affiliation: Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH reddya3@ccf.org.
authors.forename: Anita J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.affiliation: Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pappas
authors.affiliation: Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH.
authors.forename: Sanjeev
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suri
authors.affiliation: Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Whinney
authors.affiliation: Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yerian
authors.affiliation: Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH.
authors.forename: Jorge A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Guzman
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001509:Bed Occupancy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D057188:Workflow
keywords: ICU; Little’s law; census; throughput