The combination of increasing patient volumes and the transition to an electronic medical record system was taking its toll on the emergency department at Doctor's Hospital of Manteca (Calif.), so they called in for help, according to an EmCare case study.
EmCare, a national full-service ED management company, spent six weeks with the team at Doctor's Hospital of Manteca to evaluate and help streamline the department.
With EmCare's help, Doctor's Hospital of Manteca was able to do the following:
• Expand the fast-track area for low acuity patients
• Coordinate transfer agreements with a sister hospital
• Recruit more than 100 physicians and mid-level providers
• Improve medical staff-patient communication about treatment plans and possible delays
As a result, Doctor's Hospital of Manteca, part of Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare, joined Tenet's Circle of Excellence for service quality and operational performance. The ED has also lowered patient wait times and reduced turnaround for ED lab results.