Benchmarking the Elective Acute Care Inpatient Admitting Process: Minimizing Patient Waiting Times
Abstract
The Johns Hopkins Hospital (JHH) has more than 41,000 inpatient admissions in a given year, or averaging about 110 admissions per business day (Monday-Friday). Admissions continue to increase as JHH attempts to maintain bed occupancy rates during a period of continual decline in the average length of stay. This sheer volume of daily admissions is very good for JHH but is taking a toll on JHH's number one customer, the patient, as the admission process becomes more congested. Over 26 percent of all JHH admissions are considered to be elective. The elective acute care inpatient admission process includes multiple patient contacts, long waits, and the requirement for the patient to sign numerous forms. The purpose of this study is to identify functions for performance improvements within the elective acute care (EAC) inpatient admitting process and to provide process alternatives to decrease patient waiting times. A complete analysis of the JHH admitting process was conducted and critical success factors of EAC admitting processes were benchmarked against JHH's. The study identified that JHH has great opportunity to improve the percentage of patients pre-admitted, patients waiting times, and patient contact and interaction. Multiple recommendations are presented to improve JHH's EAC admitting process such as increasing patient contract prior to admission, consolidating forms, and scheduling patients for admission appointment times.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 15, 1996
- Accession Number
- ADA372262
Entities
People
- Craig E. Mauch
Organizations
- Academy of Health Sciences