7/17/2007
In the News! Lisa Romano, Director of Avanti Patient Flow Services
A Multifaceted Approach to Capacity Management
By Lisa Romano
IT and real-time data empower the departments responsible for patient flow.
Increasing a hospital’s physical capacity takes time and money. And even after making substantial investments, some hospitals still experience stagnant patient flow, which causes emergency department diversions, operating room holds, the inability to accommodate direct admissions, ED boarders and declines in patient satisfaction. Successful capacity management requires a multifaceted approach that encompasses technology, data-driven project management, internal process redesign and organization-wide cultural change. Here, we’ll shine a spotlight on the benefits of specialized software and the valuable data it can provide.