One of the biggest challenges facing busy hospitals today is finding effective ways to manage capacity and improve throughput in order to care for more patients. Implementing efficient patient discharge processes aligned with TeleTracking best practices is one way to achieve success.
So often however, hospitals interpret discharge as getting the greatest number of patients out, as early as possible. Patient flow projects focused on “out by 11am” and “home by noon” continue to be very popular. However, the science of queuing theory and the utilization curve provides a new perspective on this concept.
Managing Consultant, Advisory Services
Deb Kaczynski serves as a Managing Consultant with the TeleTracking consulting team. In her role, she supports organizations to optimally use TeleTracking solutions by influencing how they adopt the technology through change management and process redesign.
Deb joined TeleTracking after more than 20 years with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), where her work focused on hospital operations and administration. Her passion and energy for improving patient flow in the acute care setting began over fifteen years ago within the UPMC system. Experience with Toyota Production System methods, certification as a Six Sigma Black Belt, and engagement with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement have all supported her previous process improvement work with the UPMC system.
In her previous position at UPMC, Deb oversaw the patient flow initiatives at UPMC’s seventeen hospitals. As a Senior Administrative Director, she had executive oversight of seven large departments which all played a key role in successful patient flow and capacity management.
In addition to her responsibilities at UPMC system, Deb joined the Institute for Healthcare Improvement as a faculty member, teaching seminars on patient flow in the United States and internationally.
Deb received a bachelor’s degree in Education and a master’s degree in Exercise Physiology from the University of Pittsburgh. She has also received certifications from Intermountain Healthcare (Brent James) and the Institute for Healthcare Optimization (Eugene Litvak).
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