Sinai Throughput Project Aims to Solve Patient Flow Problems
A new multidisciplinary initiative at Sinai Hospital aims to further enhance care by eliminating bottlenecks in patient flow processes.
The Sinai Throughput Project is part of LifeBridge Health's overall efforts to bring Lean methodology to its hospitals. The pilot projects include daily interdisciplinary care team meetings and a flex pool for staffing.
"It's been great to see physicians, nurses and ancillary staff working together to improve the experience for our patients and staff. We're rapidly making improvements that affect patient flow and reduce wait times," says Steve Young, executive sponsor of the project and LifeBridge Health vice president.
The three-month-old Sinai Throughput Project is already on track to make significant improvements in the following areas:
- Clinical resource optimization (ensuring adequate staffing to patient acuity)
- Provider alignment (enhancing communications among nurses, hospitalists, radiology, transport, labs, data analysts, etc.)
- Bed placement (placing patients on the right floor for the right care)
- Ancillary testing (determining if a diagnostic test, such as an MRI, is required for an inpatient)
- Care progression (making sure that patients have everything they need for a safe and timely discharge)
Adds Jamie Barnes, MD, chief of critical care at Sinai and Northwest hospitals: "The collaboration across disciplines is unprecedented. It's an extraordinary time to be part of LifeBridge Health."
Committed to improving the health of individuals and communities it serves through compassionate, high-quality care, LifeBridge Health comprises Sinai Hospital, Northwest Hospital, Carroll Hospital, Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center and Hospital, LifeBridge Health & Fitness, and related subsidiaries and affiliates. For more information about its services, visit www.lifebridgehealth.org.