Resource:
Executive Summary - 2012 Patient Flow Challenges Assessment (PFCA)
Learn how and where hospital professionals see a strong connection between patient flow and patient care and to overall hospital effectiveness, in this 2012 report conducted by AHA Solutions, Inc.
Tasked with the ongoing process of identifying obstacles for operational process improvement, AHA Solutions, Inc. conducts this annual assessment to establish a benchmark for the challenges hospitals encounter in patient throughput and capacity management.
Hospitals consider patient flow one of the key elements to successful patient care, patient satisfaction and overall hospital performance and are investing in a wide range of solutions to improve it, according to the 2012 Patient Flow Challenges Assessment (PFCA) Report.
Report findings indicate that hospital leaders connect patient flow to readmissions, changing Medicare and Medicaid requirements, EMRs and the HCAHPS rating system. Respondents identify Communications as the most pervasive cause of poor patient flow and Discharge is cited as the top priority for improvement.
Respondents also report successes. Most note designating permanent departments or committees to patient flow improvement and identify hospitalists as an effective resource. Also, hospitals are investing in asset, equipment, staff and patient tracking systems to help directly improve patient flow.
