Enhancing Emergency Patient Flow and Efficiency in the Rapid Assessment Zone

Abstract

The Emergency Department often faces overcrowding and prolonged wait times, which can lead to compromised patient care and increased stress for both patients and staff. The goal for RAZ is to streamline patient flow and improve early clinical decision making. RAZ is limited to a single patient care room procedure room staffed by an Advanced Practitioner, RN and EMT care team. The implementation of RAZ allows for early patient assessment, minimal interventions, timely imaging and a more efficient discharge process. Measurable goals for RAZ: Reduce length of stay for RAZ patients, reduce average length of stay for all patients, reduce wait times and reduce left without being seen rates. RAZ on average is able to care for 13.6 patients out of 1 ED room each day, which has led to a reduction in overall wait times, improved capacity utilization, reduced overall length of stay and contributed to more efficient patient flow