Project Title / Aim: Reduce Patient Wait Times in the Emergency Department
1. Plan
| Questions |
Answers |
| What is the problem or goal we are addressing? |
Long patient wait times in the emergency department. |
| What data do we need to collect? |
Current average wait times, patient arrival times, staffing levels, and patient satisfaction scores. |
| What resources are required? |
Staff time for data collection and analysis, software for tracking wait times, and training materials. |
| What are our success criteria? |
Reduce average wait times by 30% within 3 months. |
| What potential obstacles might we face? |
Resistance from staff, inaccurate data collection, and variability in patient arrival patterns. |
2. Do
| Questions |
Answers |
| What specific actions will we take? |
Implement a triage system, increase staffing during peak hours, and streamline patient check-in processes. |
| Who will be responsible for each action? |
Nurse Manager for triage system, HR for staffing adjustments, and IT for check-in process improvements. |
| What is our timeline for implementation? |
Start implementation next week and review progress bi-weekly. |
| How will we collect data during this phase? |
Use the hospital's information system to track wait times and patient feedback forms for satisfaction scores. |
| What issues or challenges arise during implementation? |
Initial staff resistance to the new triage system and technical issues with the check-in process. |
3. Study
| Questions |
Answers |
| What data have we collected? |
Data on wait times before and after implementation, staffing levels, and patient satisfaction scores. |
| How do the results compare to our expectations? |
Initial results show a 15% reduction in wait times, which is below our target but indicates progress. |
| What trends or patterns do we see in the data? |
Wait times are significantly lower during peak hours with increased staffing, but less impact during off-peak times. |
| Were there any unexpected outcomes? |
Patient satisfaction scores improved more than expected, despite the modest reduction in wait times. |
| What lessons have we learned from the results? |
Effective triage and staffing adjustments are critical, but additional process improvements are needed. |
4. Act
| Questions |
Answers |
| What changes need to be made based on our findings? |
Further streamline the check-in process and explore additional ways to reduce wait times during off-peak hours. |
| Should we adopt, adapt, or abandon the plan? |
Adopt the successful aspects of the plan and adapt the less effective parts for further improvement. |
| How will we implement these changes? |
Continue with current triage and staffing adjustments, and start a new cycle focused on off-peak hours. |
| What is our plan for the next cycle? |
Focus on optimizing processes during off-peak hours and addressing technical issues with the check-in system. |
| How will we communicate the results and changes to stakeholders? |
Regular updates through staff meetings, emails, and a detailed report shared with the hospital administration. |
