Journal of emergency nursing : JEN : official publication of the Emergency Department Nurses Association
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Increasing numbers of people are seeking unscheduled medical care in United States' emergency departments, which contributes to delayed throughput and increased patient length of stay. Implementation of nurse-initiated protocols, such as those for throat pain, initiates early diagnostic testing, optimizes patient throughput strategies, and promotes adherence to clinic practice guidelines for an additional segment of patients. ⋯ Although this department has only partially implemented a protocol for throat pain, it highlights the benefits to reduce the number of patients that LWBS and reduce patient length of stay. The use of the protocol also improved adherence to clinical practice guidelines for testing and antibiotic prescribing.
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Observational Study
Emergency Nurses' Perceptions of Efficiency and Design: Examining ED Structure, Process, and Outcomes.
Due to increasing demands, it is imperative for emergency departments to improve efficiency, while providing safe and effective care. Efficient and quality healthcare delivery are impacted by interactions among the emergency department's physical structure, processes, and outcomes. Examining the interrelationship between these three components is essential for assessing quality of care in the ED setting. Studies simultaneously investigating all three aspects of this model are rare. ⋯ The findings suggest that the structure of the built environment can shape healthcare processes occurring within it and ultimately improve the delivery of efficient care, thus increasing both patient and staff satisfaction. As such, the designed environment has a critical impact on enhancing performance, productivity, and staff satisfaction.