Journal of emergency nursing : JEN : official publication of the Emergency Department Nurses Association
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OBJECTIVE In 1993 the administration of Kennewick General Hospital selected a facilitator to assist an ED task force in isolating and testing aspects of operations for quality improvement. The primary problem selected was reducing the length of stay (LOS) for patients. The department had an annual census in excess of 33,000, with seven rooms and 96 hours of registered nurse staffing per day. ⋯ DISCUSSION The study results met some expectations but also provided some unexpected findings for the ED staff. Some factors were implemented to reduce patient LOS and others for a different improvement value to patient care (i.e., a private triage room). Some highly effective factors were not implemented because of significant changes in department volume.