Quality improvements in hospital flow may lead to a reduction in mortality

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of ths paper is to report that timely interventions to facilitate medical patient flow and reduce medical outliers may be associated with a reduction in hospital mortality.

Design/methodology/approach

Interventions to improve the flow of medical patients were used to unblock and facilitate the discharge process allowing a reduction in medical outliers. SPC run charts of mortality were used to quality control the changes.

Findings

Timeliness in daily senior medical review and discharge planning, a level 1 medical ward, and outreach including ALERT training and early warning scoring allowed a rationalisation in medical beds and a reduction in mortality for emergency medical admissions, reflected in a lower hospital standarised mortality rate (HSMR).

Practical implications

Interventions to improve flow can also lead to a reduction in mortality.

Originality/value

This paper emphasises how quantitative flow improvements can also generate qualitative improvements.

Citation

Gilligan, S. and Walters, M. (2008), "Quality improvements in hospital flow may lead to a reduction in mortality", Clinical Governance: An International Journal, Vol. 13 No. 1, pp. 26-34. https://doi.org/10.1108/14777270810850607