title: Whiteboards and discharge traffic lights: visual management in acute care.
abstract: Flinders Medical Centre was experiencing issues with timely discharge and knowing the potential discharges and in-patient bed capacity for the next day. This case study describes the application of 'visual management' theory to discharge processes. The solutions developed were 'patient journey boards' and 'discharge traffic lights'. The implementation of these visual management systems has enabled the hospital to improve its discharge processes.
authors.affiliation: Redesigning Care Team, Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, SA 5041, Australia.
authors.forename: Lauri
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.affiliation: Redesigning Care Team, Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, SA 5041, Australia.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bassham
authors.affiliation: Redesigning Care Team, Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, SA 5041, Australia.
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lewis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001296:Audiovisual Aids; D003142:Communication; D003422:Critical Care; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D005260:Female; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D010351:Patient Discharge; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D013021:South Australia; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires