Patient Throughput: How to Improve Patient Flow

Efficient patient throughput is the backbone of a well-functioning hospital. It ensures patients get timely care and that resources, like staff, equipment, and beds, are used effectively. When hospitals focus on improving patient flow, it leads to happier patients, better care outcomes, and smoother day-to-day operations.
In this article, we’ll explore what patient throughput means, why it’s important, and share some practical ways to improve it using automation and smart workflows.

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TL;DR

• Simulation models play a key role in assessing hospital processes and forecasting the effects of changes in staffing and patient flow.
• Systematic reviews have revealed significant barriers to patient throughput, often focusing on specific departments rather than the hospital as a whole.
• The Swift and Even Flows Theory emphasizes the importance of reducing variability and improving throughput times to boost productivity in healthcare.
• Effective solutions for enhancing patient flow include streamlining organizational structures, adopting digital tools, and optimizing the use of available capacity.
  

What is Patient Throughput? Throughput definition in Healthcare

At its core, patient throughput is about how smoothly patients move through the stages of care in a healthcare facility. This includes everything from check-in and diagnosis to treatment and discharge. Efficient throughput reduces delays, prevents bottlenecks, and makes the most of available resources.

What Impacts Patient Throughput?

Several factors influence how efficiently patients flow through a hospital or clinic:

• Staff Availability: Are there enough doctors, nurses, and support staff?
• Bed Capacity: Can the facility accommodate patients quickly?
• Administrative Workflows: Are processes like scheduling and record-keeping running smoothly?

For example, Keragon’s integration with DrChrono helps automate patient intake and scheduling, reducing wait times and administrative tasks so staff can focus on care.

Improving Hospital Throughput with Automation: 5 Hospital Patient Flow Best Practices

1. Implement Real-Time Location Systems (RTLS)

Tracking the real-time location of patients, staff, and equipment can eliminate unnecessary delays. Knowing exactly where resources are saves time and ensures smooth coordination across departments.
Example: Hospitals can use Keragon’s integration with Twilio to set up automated notifications, ensuring that staff can quickly locate necessary resources or respond to patient needs without unnecessary delays.

2. Automate Scheduling and Appointments

Let’s face it—manual scheduling can create chaos. Automated systems help organize patient appointments, minimize overlaps, and send reminders to reduce no-shows.
Example: With Keragon’s integration with Calendly, clinics can automate reminders and even allow patients to reschedule their appointments online, saving everyone time and ensuring better resource utilization.

3. Deploy Electronic Health Records (EHR) Effectively

An Electronic Health Record (EHR) system can be a game-changer if used effectively. It ensures that every department has instant access to the information they need, reducing time spent searching for records or repeating tests.
Example: Keragon’s integration with athenahealth makes it easy to automate updates to patient records, so the latest data is always at a doctor’s fingertips. This seamless flow of information speeds up decision-making and improves care coordination.

4. Use Predictive Analytics for Bed Management

Nobody likes being told there’s no bed available when they need urgent care. Predictive analytics tools can help hospitals forecast admissions and discharges to better manage bed availability.
Example: By integrating Keragon with Google Sheets, hospitals can set up predictive models that monitor bed capacity in real time, helping staff plan ahead and reduce patient wait times.

5. Enhance Communication Channels

Quick, effective communication between departments is essential for patient flow. Automated messaging systems can keep everyone informed about patient status, resource availability, or urgent updates.
Example: Keragon’s integration with Twilio allows hospitals to send automated notifications to the right staff members at the right time. For instance, it can notify a discharge team when a patient room is ready for cleaning, speeding up turnover times.

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Final Thoughts on Patient Throughput

Patient throughput isn’t just about efficiency—it’s about better care. When hospitals run smoothly, patients spend less time waiting, staff are less overwhelmed, and resources are used where they’re needed most.
Addressing common barriers like staff shortages or outdated processes can have a huge impact. By incorporating digital tools like Keragon’s HIPAA-compliant integrations, healthcare providers can automate time-consuming tasks and focus more on patient care.

FAQs

What does throughput mean in healthcare?

Throughput in healthcare refers to the processes involved in moving patients from admission to discharge. It encompasses various steps, including patient intake, diagnostic tests, treatment, and ultimately, discharge.

Efficient throughput ensures that patients receive timely and effective care, minimizes delays, and optimizes healthcare resource utilization. The goal is to improve patient outcomes and enhance hospital operational efficiency.

Who should be responsible for optimizing the patient flow process in a hospital?

Optimizing patient flow is a multidisciplinary responsibility. Key stakeholders include hospital administrators, medical directors, nursing staff, and operational managers.

Each plays a critical role in ensuring smooth transitions throughout the patient journey. Collaboration is essential, as effective communication and coordination among departments (emergency, surgery, general wards) are vital for streamlining processes and reducing bottlenecks.

How to improve patient flow in a clinic?

Improving patient flow in a clinic involves several strategies:

1. Optimize Scheduling: Efficient appointment scheduling to minimize waiting times.
2. Staff Training: Continuous staff training for better patient handling and workflow management.
3. Technology Utilization: Electronic Health Records (EHR) and other digital tools for streamlined operations.
4. Patient Education: Informing patients about procedures and expectations to reduce uncertainties.

These steps lead to enhanced patient experiences and more efficient clinic operations.

What is a patient throughput facilitator?

A patient throughput facilitator is a dedicated professional responsible for overseeing and coordinating patient flow within healthcare facilities.

They focus on identifying bottlenecks, implementing efficient processes, and ensuring smooth transitions from one stage of care to the next.

Their role involves continuous monitoring, data analysis, and collaboration with various departments to optimize overall patient movement within the hospital.

What are the barriers to hospital throughput?

Barriers to hospital throughput can significantly hinder patient care.

Some common barriers include:

1. Staffing Shortages: Insufficient staffing levels can delay patient care.
2. Inadequate Infrastructure: Outdated facilities and equipment may slow down processes.
3. Poor Communication: Lack of effective communication between departments can create delays.
4. Administrative Bottlenecks: Lengthy administrative procedures can impede patient movement.

Efforts to address these barriers are crucial for improving throughput and ensuring effective patient care.

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