Implementation of the Acute Care Clinic Easy Scheduling System (ACCESS) at the Brooke Army Medical Center
Abstract
Background: Emergency departments (ED) have continued to struggle with overcrowding, causing delays in patient care and increasing stress on the medical staff and resources. This was further illustrated during the recent COVID-19 pandemic, where we saw large unpredictable surges to the ED as hospitals tried to meet the medical needs of patients while trying to minimize the spread of COVID. A previous study from the Department of Emergency (DEM) at the Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) found that nearly half of the patients presenting to the ED could have been managed in a primary care setting. We sought to pilot an alternate appointment scheduling system to allow patients to see and book available appointments while waiting in the ED waiting room. Materials and Methods: Our appointment display system was created through collaboration with the BAMC Information Management Division. A Tableau data interface connects to the Composite HealthCare System (CHCS) to view available primary appointments across the San Antonio Military Healthcare System (MHS). These are displayed in real-time on multiple TV screens outside the ED at and in the waiting room. Patients were provided signage that provides a way to call or use a web-based interface to immediately schedule the open appointments within the next 48 hours. Patients voluntarily opted to use this system and may opt to leave the ED if another appointment became available within an acceptable time frame to them. Results: Not applicable to this paper. Conclusion: Expansion of the ACCESS system within the MHS would (1) help reduce ED crowding, (2) improve access to care through a live-tracking system that patients can review and select from, and (3) reduce the number of unfilled primary care appointments. The system in place in the BAMC ED serves as a template for other MTFs to use.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 03, 2022
- Accession Number
- AD1168485
Entities
People
- Ashley D. Tapia
- Bradley L Snyder
- Eric J. Chin
- Giselle Tapia
- Natasha L. Bebo
- Steven G Schauer
Organizations
- 59th Medical Wing
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education
- San Antonio Military Medical Center
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences