Dive Brief:
- Researchers from the University of Florida have found some success in reducing crowding in the emergency room using a data-driven simulation model.
- The model, which uses public data, examines factors such as patient door-to-event times, propensity to leave without being seen, occupancy level, staffing and resource use. It predicts in advance which intervention is likely to be most effective in a particular set of circumstances.
- Among other benefits, the model was able to identify the point of diminishing returns for emergency department physician staffing. It projected that while adding one doctor in the typical ED reduces mean length of stay by one hour, adding a second doctor provides no further improvement.
Dive Insight:
This new model is just one of several attempts to streamline ED patient flow and cut back on visits by those who don't need ED care. Hospitals continue to work hard at cutting back on needless ED visits. For example, health leaders recently reduced ED visits among "frequent fliers" at the University of Florida Health hospital in Gainesville by using a clinic-based multidisciplinary team. But it's clear that there's no one solution which can help EDs address patient flow problems. Further research is needed to help hospitals cope with the influx.