Operations management in the ER
“Amateurs study tactics; professionals study logistics.”
The Boston Globe has an article on Boston Medical Center’s ER and how they reduce wait times.
It turns out that simple stuff, the kind of thing amusement parks and fast food chains do, can help reduce the average ER stay by 30 minutes, and average wait times from 60 minutes to 40 minutes even though the number of patients has increased.
Two areas that have seen work: better scheduling of elective surgery and quicker cleaning of beds after a patient is discharged.
Both of these measures help to keep beds available for times when the ER is busy, so that patients can be admitted and treated more quickly.
