Shows improved operational throughput and patient safety in high-volume emergency department, indicating effective management strategies.
BACKGROUND: Emergency departments often face overcrowding that delays care and compromises patient safety. This quality improvement initiative implemented a nurse-led split flow model to improve throughput for Emergency Severity Index level 3 patients in a high-volume emergency department. METHODS: Guided by principles of continuous improvement and system leadership, a multidisciplinary team restructured emrgency department operations using vertical and horizontal zoning, role redefinition, and space reallocation. Leadership facilitated change management through staged pilot testing and feedback incorporation over 6 months. RESULTS: Implementation reduced door-to-provider times, enhanced patient satisfaction, and improved operational throughput. Leadership-driven decisions resulted in permanent layout changes and formal role expansion. CONCLUSION: Strategic leadership by emergency nurses enabled sustained improvements in emergency department flow and capacity. The project demonstrates how nurse-led quality improvement initiatives can drive high-impact systems change.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Germani et al. (2026) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: