Date of Graduation
Summer 8-7-2018
Document Access
Project/Capstone - Global access
Degree Name
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)
College/School
School of Nursing and Health Professions
First Advisor
Nancy Taquino, DNP, RN, CNL
Second Advisor
Elena Capella, EdD, RN, MSN/MPA, CNL, CPHQ, LNCC
Abstract
Due to competition for resources in the hospital setting, efficient processes are essential to functioning. One of the critical factors that influence efficient healthcare delivery is throughput, the movement of the patient through the system. Hospitals, therefore, strive to provide the right care to the right patient at the right time both to meet the individualized needs of the patient and to ensure economic viability. The intensive care unit (ICU) in this project specializes in neurological services. When these ICU patients stabilize, they are typically transferred to the neurology unit for continued specialty care. The neurology unit is regularly at capacity and unable to accept stabilized ICU patients. A process to transfer specific neurology patients to our medical-surgical orthopedic unit to decompress the neurology unit and free up beds for stabilized ICU patients was implemented. Outcomes were tracked to evaluate the success of the new process which included boarding time in the ICU, the number of neurology patients cared for on the medical-surgical unit, and capacity of the ICU, neurology, and medical-surgical units. The results showed that unit capacity for ICU and neurology unit did not reach full capacity, boarding minutes from ICU to the neurology unit decreased from 5.13 to 4.62 hour, and ICU boarding time was reduced to 51 minutes after the intervention. Conclusions from this work reveal that caring for specific neurology patients on the medical-surgical unit has decreased ICU to neurology boarding time, aided in the ICU and neurology unit remaining below full capacity, and therefore able to admit patients who are needing the appropriate level of care.
Recommended Citation
Mai, Mina B., "Optimizing ICU Throughput to Neurology Unit" (2018). Master's Projects and Capstones. 796.
https://repository.usfca.edu/capstone/796
