Journal of emergency nursing : JEN : official publication of the Emergency Department Nurses Association
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Struggling to keep up with The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services out-patient throughput metrics, an adult emergency department serving Burlington and Camden Counties, New Jersey, sought to redefine its care delivery model by adopting the patient segmentation initiatives of the split-flow process of patient care. ⋯ Working collaboratively with all stakeholders to define the right patient care delivery model, combined with an understanding of the right resource assignments to optimally support that care delivery model, an emergency department can institute cost-effective changes to realize and sustain significant patient throughput improvements.
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Ongoing education, an ever-present challenge in a hectic clinical environment, can be addressed by utilizing peer-to-peer education. Enhancing nurses' comfort level with specialty topics can reduce anxiety while enhancing core knowledge and skill proficiency for the provision of safe care. Increased self-confidence in a nurse's ability to detect a new or developing concern can lead to fewer delays in care. Critical problems identified and addressed promptly support better outcomes.