Delays and interruptions in the acute medical unit clerking process

"Interruptions and delays regularly occurred during the admission process in the study hospital which impacts adversely on patient experience and compliance with the recommended 4-h timeframe, further work is required to assess the impact on patient safety. Data obtained from this observational study were used to guide operational changes to improve the process."


Delays and interruptions in the acute medical unit clerking process: an observational study
AJ Basey, TD Kennedy, AJ Mackridge, J Krska
JRSM Open February 2016 vol. 7 no. 2 2054270415619323

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5 basic hospital inefficiencies and their quick fixes

"Although many of the issues that lead to inefficiency may be complex, there are still some quick fixes that can add up to huge savings in both staff time and money. Here are some of the most common hospital inefficiencies and some simple strategies that can help to correct them"

5 basic hospital inefficiencies and their quick fixes
J Henry
Healthcare Dive
February 2015

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Admissions avoidance and diabetes

"The document emphasises the scale of the clinical and financial problem of diabetes admissions to UK hospitals and commissioners, and describes models shown to reduce variability."

Admissions avoidance and diabetes: guidance for clinical commissioning groups and clinical teams
Joint British Diabetes Societies for Inpatient Care
December 2013

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Focus on hip fracture

"Providing good-quality care for hip fractures will become of increasing importance due to an ageing population and the corresponding rise in hip fracture incidence. This analysis explores the quality and outcomes of treatment by looking at ten years of hospital inpatient activity data in England."

Focus on hip fracture: trends in emergency admissions for fractured neck of femur, 2001 to 2011
P Smith, C Ariti, M Bardsley
QualityWatch
The Health Foundation, Nuffield Trust
October 2013

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Reducing cardiac arrests in the acute admissions unit

"Through adoption of a shared goal, application of improvement methodology including the model for improvement to test new innovations, and promotion of a safety culture in the AAU, cardiac arrests were successfully reduced to <1/1000 admissions per month with an associated significant fall in mortality. This was achieved with negligible cost."

Reducing cardiac arrests in the acute admissions unit: a quality improvement journey
DJ Beckett, M Inglis, S Oswald, E Thomson, W Harley, J Wilson, RC Lloyd, KD Rooney
BMJ Quality & Safety, 2013, 7(17)

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Commissioning for carers

"Commissioning well for carers can:

• Reduce admissions to hospital and residential care.
• Reduce the costs of delays in transfers of care.
• Reduce carers’ need to access primary care as a result of their caring role.
• Reduce overall spending on care."

Commissioning for Carers: Key principles for Clinical Commissioning Groups
Carers Trust
July 2013

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Does integrated care deliver the benefits expected?

"A two-year initiative by the Department of Health explored new ways of integrating patient care from different local providers."

Does integrated care deliver the benefits expected? Findings from 16 integrated care pilot initiatives in England
RAND Europe
May 2013

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Yorkshire and the Humber Telehealth Hub

"The aim for the Hub was to support care closer to home and deliver services to 2,100 patients, leading to fewer unnecessary admissions to hospital, healthier outcomes and lifestyles, and cost savings."

Yorkshire and the Humber Telehealth Hub: 2020health Evaluation
J Cruickshank, J Paxman
2020 health.org
January 2013

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Care management programs to reduce hospital admissions and readmissions

"Three case studies illustrate the potential of care management programs to address this problem by improving care coordination and transitions among high-risk patients."

Gaining ground: care management programs to reduce hospital admissions and readmissions among chronically ill and vulnerable patients
D McCarthy, A Cohen, M Bihrle Johnson
The Commonwealth Fund
January 2013

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Older people and emergency bed use

"There is significant variation in the use of hospital beds by people over 65 admitted as an emergency."

Older people and emergency bed use: exploring variation
C Imison, E Poteliakhoff, J Thompson
The King's Fund
August 2012

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Analysis of hospital activity by day of the week

"Our analysis has revealed a discernible pattern in hospital activity. We found that across emergency patients; elective patients; maternity and births; procedures and diagnostics there was significantly lower activity at the weekend."


Insight report: The weekly pulse: Analysis of hospital activity by day of the week
P Robinson
CHKS
June 2012

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