Improving throughput and bed utilization in UM Shore Medical Centers at Chestertown and Easton has been an important initiative in Patient Care Services in recent months. Goals and strategies now in progress are as follows:
SMC at Easton
- Telemetry Goal: Decrease utilization of telemetry monitors by increasing close adherence to the telemetry protocol.
- Observation Goal: Decrease volume of patients remaining in Observation for more than 24 hours by establishing 3-East as the Observation Unit and updating Observation protocols and Workflow.
- Increase volume of patient discharges completed early in the day (by 12 p.m.) to decrease Emergency Department boarding times, facilitate faster patient admissions and avoid holds in the ED.
SMC at Chestertown
- Increase bed utilization to average 10-12 daily census by utilizing new acute care admission guidelines.