ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: We wanted to assess whether a regional approach to bed management and staffing could improve financial sustainability without reducing services in rural communities. METHODS: Regional approaches to patient placement, hospital throughput, and staffing were coupled with enhanced services at 1 hub hospital and 4 critical access hospitals. RESULTS: We improved the use of patient beds in the 4 critical access hospitals, increased hub hospital capacity, and improved the health system's financial performance while maintaining or enhancing services at the critical access hospitals. DISCUSSION: Sustainability of critical access hospitals can be attained without a decrease in services for rural patients and communities. One way to achieve this result is to invest in and enhance care at the rural site.
Subject(s)
Health Services Accessibility , Hospitals, Rural , HumansABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Consistent and concise communication in a large health care organization that is geographically dispersed is a challenge. Issues often are not addressed with the appropriate individuals in the most timely and effective manner, which results in patient flow disruptions, service gaps, and provider and administrator frustration. CASE PRESENTATION: This report describes the development of a daily leadership huddle with regional leadership and middle management to inform of daily operations, safety, quality, and service concerns, in order to allow for quicker action and issue resolution. DISCUSSION: Huddles have proven effective in organizations of similar size, but few organizations have attempted a multisite daily huddle. CONCLUSION: To ensure their success, key steps must be taken during the formation of daily leadership huddles, including buy-in from leaders and stakeholders at multiple levels. In our organization, the huddles have proven to be a forum for effective communication, quicker issue resolution, and an increased sense of camaraderie.
