Complexity analysis of a transfer center

Abstract

Patient throughput and the reduction of wait times for care are critical to improve patient outcomes in life-threatening emergencies. The concept of patient throughput underpins many wait time improvement techniques currently being implemented by healthcare providers across the industry as well as at Indiana University (IU) Health. Without the ability to implement effective patient throughput process improvement solutions, healthcare providers will struggle to reduce wait times and meet strategic goals of improved patient outcomes. IU Health launched its first patient transfer program between intensive care units. A level 1 vascular emergency program in August 2009; the initiative was soon complemented by other patients transfer programs. The success of the program showed a significant drop in median emergency department-to-operating room time, reductions in time spent at referring hospitals and in transit. Despite the successes, the program is left with increasing demand (volume & acuity) and a need for interactive care pathway or delivery of care solutions to streamline the patient throughput and to adequately measure impacts on patient outcomes and capacity management. The paper will present a preliminary analysis of (1) observations of current workflows and their complexity, and (2) based on the observations suggest patient throughput simulation in order to identify bottlenecks and test potential solutions and protocols before actually implementing them in practice. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.