For example, we know that one in three dollars spent on healthcare in the U.S. is wasted—medical errors alone add up to more than $17 billion, preventable re-admissions and hospital acquired infections another $28 billion, and operational inefficiencies add tens of billions more (source: Price Waterhouse Coopers). In addition, a recent Bloomberg study ranked the United States 44th out of 51 in healthcare efficiency. Basically we outspend every nation by a wide margin as a percentage of GDP, yet when it comes to results, our outcomes remain firmly in the middle of the pack.
So how do we find ways to improve processes and measure outcomes in healthcare? If we call out patient flow there are dozens of potential measures available, however, at the core it’s about enabling a timely and purposeful experience for both patients and caregivers. And that experience means breaking the process down and determining appropriate metrics across the care continuum.
From there we can distill that down into something more measurable. It becomes about reducing the millions of patient hold hours in the ED and the countless numbers turned away for diversion—it’s about easing the gridlock for every patient and making sure they get the right care, in the right place, at the right time.
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[Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared on TeleTracking’s blog. To receive the Patient Flow Quarterly, click here.]
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