Bed Management Meeting More Than Just Measurement : Outcomes

1. Bed Management MeetingMore Than Just Measurement : Outcomes Patient Flow Collaborative Learning Session 3 Trevor Rixon Access Manager 8 February 2005

2. Bed Management Meeting- What do we want to achieve? • Improved RCH patient experience - ensure timely access to hospital for our patients & families • Collect accurate & timely information - for both day-to-day & longer term decisions about managing patient flow & capacity • Identify & remove barriers to good bed management practice • A flexible system, capable of effectively managing fluctuations in activity whilst maintaining efficiency • Active involvement of the RCH community in bed management

3. Length of Stay (Total)

4. Average Admissions & Discharges by DOW

6. Understanding Patient Flow • Minimal influence over emergency arrivals • Emphasis on managing discharges & elective admissions - all other outcomes then follow • Requires sufficient data & information to properly understand how things are currently operating • Inpatient Flow: align elective & emergency flows to better manage demand & capacity • Patient Discharge: create capacity in the system by increasing the efficiency of patient discharge processes

7. Data and Information • Effective Bed Management requires: • regular monitoring of current situation through timely analysis of accurate data set • supported by the smooth flow of information throughout the whole organisation • Core set of operational data is collected & monitored by the Access Management Team on a daily basis

8. Story so far…… • Access Manager appointed • Met with stakeholders • Reviewed bed management process & practices • Identified service gaps • Discussion paper distributed • Developed & implemented IT-based Bed Management Tool • illustrates the variation of bed management activity on a periodic basis

9. Story so far…… • Bed management meetings commenced: August 2004 • Access Management Team (Access Manager, Bed Allocations Officer) co-ordinates meeting • All ward/unit nursing staff attend daily • Completed bed management template sent to staff daily • data assists in planning & managing elective & emergency demand • Enhanced communication & liaison between RCH & Royal Bank (casual staffing provider)

10. Bed Management Tool • Through valid data collection, increase awareness of all staff of the need for good bed management practice to underpin achievement of key access targets • To inform good and effective bed management • To provide an easy to use format & access to information that improves bed management processes

13. Lessons Learnt • Systems & tools enable better understanding of resource requirements by all participants • Information presented in a structured format ensures an agreed understanding & minimises disputation of data • Dealing with bed management issues in group forum allows time to identify & resolve issues • ‘meeting after the meeting’ • Enhances staff development - access to mentors & champions • Important to acknowledge and celebrate progress

17. Improvement Plan • Staff Survey undertaken • Organisational review of bed management policy & practices • Inform Admissions & Discharge process changes • Develop an ‘on-line’ bed management system • Dedicated venue • Further integrate process into culture & context by seeking involvement of key medical & allied health staff • Assist nursing management to manage staffing issues that impact on bed availability: • casual staffing requirements; sick leave patterns; rostering practices

18. Bed Management MeetingMore Than Just Measurement : Outcomes ? trevor.rixon@rch.org.au