The amount of time patients waited before seeing a physician in an ER has risen steadily in the U.S., from 38 minutes in 1997, to 47 minutes in 2004, to 56 minutes in 2006, according to a report by the CDCP (Centers for Disease Control & Prevention).
“It’s a trend HCA East Florida hospitals did not want to see continue,” says Gila Kimmelman, FACHE, Management Engineer, HCA East Florida, “so our ER care team took on the challenge of reducing our own statistics and, over the past two years or so, have dramatically cut the time patients wait for a physician and total treatment time.” This team effort included Emergency Department Directors, Emergency Department staff, Radiology, Lab, Registration Staff and Physicians.
The statistics below reflect the steady improvements in intake processes in the Emergency Departments at HCA East Florida hospitals between 2007 and 2009. (Figures shown below are an average of all HCA East Florida hospitals.)
Time to:2007 2008 2009 Dec ‘09 (only)
Triage RN 14.5 12 8 6
Bed 37 18 12 9
Doctor 59 32 22 17
The initiatives undertaken by the E.R. staff members to accomplish this amazing reduction in wait times included analyzing processes and making changes at virtually every step of the Emergency Room stay. This included the triage process and documentation, whereby a nurse prioritizes the patient’s need to be seen; the bedding process, which moves the patient from the waiting area to an ER treatment room; response of ancillary support (Lab/Radiology) and staffing needs, according to arrival patterns and emergency department census.
ER staff also began reviewing their performance daily and monthly, from which reports were generated. A key component is that Emergency physicians also became involved in performance improvement processes, with oversight by each hospital’s Chief Executive Office and Chief Nursing Officer.
The next step was getting the word out to the public – by posting current E.R. Wait Times on each hospital’s website, as well as making wait times readily available through texting, free iPhone apps, and incorporated into selected billboards.
You might see Helio Casteneves, three-time winner of the Indianapolis 500 race, on a billboard or see him on your local TV station talking about the precision and speed of our emergency room services. Watch as he gives the checkered flag to our ER services and lets everyone know you can Text 23000 for Live ER Wait Times. Click on the video below to watch the TV spot by Helio.
About HCA East Florida
Building a Healthy Community
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In communities across South Florida and the Treasure Coast, more than 12,000 of your neighbors, friends and colleagues are committed to building a Healthy Community – a community with dedicated neighborhood groups, active little leagues, charities helping those in need, firstclass institutions that contribute to the overall well-being of the community, and businesses committed to making the communities they serve a better place.
A National Presence
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HCA’s roots date back to the 1960s when Dr. Thomas Frist, Sr. led a group of physicians to build a hospital in Nashville,Tennessee. Close to four decades of hard work and dedication have made HCA – Hospital Corporation of America – the nation’s leading provider of quality healthcare services, with locally managed facilities that include approximately 191 hospitals and 82 outpatient surgery centers in 23 states, England and Switzerland.
In Florida, there are 40 hospitals and 28 surgery centers, three division offices, and multiple other service facilities affiliated with HCA that employ close to 40,000 individuals.
HCA affiliated facilities in East Florida are a part of a quality healthcare network in East Florida and the Treasure Coast with 12 affiliated hospitals, 12 surgery centers, one integrated regional lab and one consolidated service center. Together, the network employs more than 12,500 individuals and has close to 6,000 physicians on staff.
A Commitment to Excellence
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hospitals have become the front line of healthcare in our country, creating demands never seen before. Technology, a growing and ever-changing part of healthcare, has pushed the boundaries of how care is provided and the expectations of those receiving care. Providing high quality and cost effective healthcare requires a constant upgrade of our facilities and the technology within the facilities.
Whether it is an expanded Emergency Room or the latest imaging technology, our commitment to excellence is unwavering. Excellence is achieved when excellence is expected. HCA affiliated East Florida hospitals expect and are committed to excellence.
A Clear Vision
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HCA’s corporate mission and values statement says it best:
Above all else, we are committed to the care and improvement of human life. In recognition of this commitment, we strive to deliver high quality, cost effective healthcare in the communities we serve.
HCA East Florida and its 12 affiliate hospitals are proud to be living up to that commitment.
Recognized Leaders
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The benchmark for quality and leadership is found in the men and women who make up HCA East Florida network of hospitals. It is the caring touch of a physician, the friendly smile of a volunteer, the compassion of a nurse, the professionalism of a technician or the willingness to help of an office clerk. It is the excellence of the individual that has made HCA affiliated hospitals in East Florida recognized leaders in the communities they serve.
HCA’s affiliate hospitals consistently appear among the Top 100 Hospitals and receive outstanding ratings from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. They receive 5 star ratings from Healthgrades, Inc. and recognition from the Leapfrog Group for Patient Safety. More importantly, our patient and physician satisfaction surveys consistently prove that the HCA affiliated East Florida hospitals are recognized leaders in the delivery of quality healthcare.
The 12 HCA East Florida affiliate hospitals provided in excess of $ 800 million in care to the neediest without any compensation. In addition, we have implemented a comprehensive charitable care policy that provides financial relief to more of our charity patients and needs-based discounts to uninsured patients.
One of the biggest challenges faced by the healthcare industry is the shortage of qualified healthcare professionals, especially Registered Nurses. Recognizing the challenge, we established scholarship programs at Palm Beach Community College, Broward Community College, Miami Dade College and Florida International University.
The active involvement of HCA affiliated hospitals in the community will continue through our support of major initiatives as well as our active leadership and participation in a variety of organizations that promote the social and economic wellbeing of our community and embrace our cultural diversity. If an initiative or organization is looking to build a Healthy Community, you’re likely to find someone from an HCA affiliated East Florida hospital actively involved.
“Healthy Community - A Community Initiative of the East Florida hospitals affiliated with HCA.”
The terms “HCA” or the “Company” as used herein refer to HCA Inc. and its affiliates, unless otherwise stated or indicated by context. The terms “facilities,” “hospitals,” “medical centers,” “surgery centers” and “affiliates” refer to entities owned or operated by subsidiaries or affiliates of HCA Inc. References herein to “HCA employees” or to “our employees” refer to employees of affiliates or subsidiaries of HCA Inc.
Follow us on these social networks:
