08/13/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/13/2024 07:13
In the face of unprecedented challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, Tanner Health has redefined the standard of emergency care. A collaborative workgroup made up of members from the emergency department and auxiliary medical services, led by Process Improvement Specialist Stephanie Shar, pioneered a comprehensive, patient-focused approach to optimize resources, enhance safety and ensure timely, effective emergency care for all at Tanner Medical Center/Carrollton in Carrollton, Georgia.
In November 2023, Shar began analyzing the current state of the emergency department and discovered that it was operating extremely well. Despite its success, the unit often battled overcrowding and found much of its available space occupied during periods of higher-than-usual admission rates, which negatively impacted overall efficiency. These issues became the primary drivers for the project, and the cross-functional workgroup started to research innovative improvement ideas.
Shar pitched her vision for improvements, which was quickly supported by Tim Paul, MD, vice president of medical affairs for Tanner Health, and Michelle Hoehn, DNP, NE-BC, MSRN, senior vice president and chief nursing officer for Tanner Health.
"By harnessing these innovative strategies and levering the tireless efforts of our performance excellence team, Tanner is meeting the demands of the present and preparing for the future," said Dr. Paul. "We're setting a new benchmark for emergency care that is efficient, patient-friendly and - most importantly - safe."
Several key initiatives have been instrumental in improving throughput times and ensuring timely, effective care:
The strengths of the emergency department prior to this improvement project provided a strong foundation for these enhancements and allowed the workgroup to pilot even more ideas. To make the intake and treatment process more efficient and patient-friendly, the team also implemented the following suggestions:
For Shar and her colleagues, these efforts have paid off, improving the patient experience and cutting down on treatment times.
"Patient satisfaction scores have reached their highest levels in recent history, and the time it takes for a patient to receive care and be discharged from the hospital has been significantly reduced," said Shar. "The 'treat to street time,' as it's sometimes called within the emergency department, is now four hours or less in most cases"
Motivated by a commitment to provide the highest-quality care to every patient, Tanner continues to improve its emergency care processes. With support from the executive team, who have generously provided resources for upgrades and expansions, and the groundbreaking strategies developed, Tanner Medical Center/Carrollton is well-positioned to weather the ongoing challenges of the post-pandemic landscape. These innovations have the potential to be shared with smaller hospitals within the system, extending the benefits of these process improvements to even more patients in need.
By continuously improving and adapting, Tanner is setting a new standard for efficient, patient-friendly and life-saving emergency care in the west Georgia community.