When the subject is the number of days of hospitalization, not always “more” means “better. Thinking about strategies to manage the average permanence is essential to maintain the financial balance of the hospital and the quality of care, which guarantees patient safety.
Managing rooms efficiently and quickly are a direct indicator of hospital performance. It reflects a reduction in costs, optimization of processes and a reduction in the rate of infections and other adverse events. In a connected system, the doctor has online access to the results of exams and additional information and, thus, expedites the discharge. At the same time, the cleaning team receives the availability information of the room and organizes it much faster for the next hospitalization.
Know seven strategies to reduce the average permanence:
1- Control of the flow of the patient in the period of hospitalization- Decreases the unnecessary time of substantial assets of an institution, such as surgical center, hospital beds and Intensive Care Unit (ICU). The management depends on the healthcare consulting firms in India– doctors, nurses and administrative leaders- for more collaborative action, storage, and analysis of patient data from their entry into the emergency room to post-surgery, for example. It is also related to the use of devices that facilitate the routing of exams, prescription of medications and other stages necessary for health support.
2- De-capitalization- Patients in treatment and recovery or those who need to undergo simple surgical procedures can be sent to a day hospital or be treated in the home care system, which avoids unnecessary hospitalization and provides space for critical care and emergencies
3- Online access to test results- With the implementation of internal collaboration and communication platforms, the doctor enjoys a consultation tool to access patient information and initiate the discharge process with more ease and agility.
4- Prescription and electronic clinical record-The report makes up an essential part of the Electronic Patient Clinical Record, a system that stores the individual’s history, including treatments, exams and prescriptions already made; that facilitates medical attention and the correct diagnosis.
5 – Extension of surgical procedures by robotics and arthroscopy- Accompanies the development of less invasive and more precise surgical techniques and methods, which allows rapid recovery to the patient.
6 – Reduction of the time of permanence- With the adoption of various process improvements, automation, and use of less invasive options and training of the medical and nursing team, the patient stays less time in the hospital. There is also the possibility of carrying out the transfer of chronic and long-term patients for home care.
7 – Implementation of clinical protocols- These instruments help professionals in decision making – be they simple or complex – that demand clinical paradigms and reliable theoretical subsidies, and streamline the entire assistance process.
With strategies that align management and hospital consultancy services, the time of hospitalizations is reduced, but there is more intelligence in the use of resources and less risk to the patient.