Improving Patient Throughput With an Electronic Nursing Handoff Process in an Academic Medical Center: A Rapid Improvement Event Approach

OBJECTIVE: Rush University Medical Center nursing leadership undertook a process improvement project to revamp nursing handoff during unit transfer with the goal of improving patient throughput. The aim was to decrease assign-to-occupy time, the duration from bed assignment to bed occupancy. BACKGROUND: There was a lengthy lag time in admitting/transferring patients, leading to delays in patient throughput and potential threats to patient safety. In fiscal year 2016, assign-to-occupy time averaged 97 minutes. The goal was to decrease that time to 60 minutes or less. METHODS: Process improvement leaders held a rapid improvement event to determine viable solutions. A team then standardized handoff workflow; created an electronic tool, virtually eliminating verbal report; and implemented a new handoff process. RESULTS: Assign-to-occupy time at 1 year after go-live averaged 55 minutes, and it has been staying less than 60 minutes since the implementation. CONCLUSIONS: Key success strategies included engaging stakeholders during the rapid improvement event, imploring frontline nurses to create and promote the revised process to facilitate staff engagement, and leveraging electronic health records.