Operations

Patient Flow

The movement of patients through healthcare facilities, designed to optimize care delivery, reduce wait times, and improve overall patient experience.

Detailed Definition

Patient Flow refers to the movement of patients through healthcare facilities, designed to optimize care delivery, reduce wait times, and improve overall patient experience. Effective patient flow management is crucial for healthcare facility efficiency and patient satisfaction. Patient flow optimization includes: - Admission and registration processes - Clinical pathway design and implementation - Resource allocation and scheduling - Discharge planning and execution - Emergency department flow management - Outpatient service optimization - Inter-departmental coordination - Technology integration for flow management Optimizing patient flow helps healthcare facilities improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance patient satisfaction while maintaining quality of care.

Examples

  • Emergency department triage optimization
  • Outpatient appointment scheduling systems
  • Inpatient discharge planning processes

Benefits

  • Reduced wait times
  • Improved patient satisfaction
  • Enhanced operational efficiency
  • Better resource utilization
  • Reduced operational costs

Related Terms

Operational EfficiencyPatient ExperienceWorkflow Design

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Operations

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