PICU Bed Use Study Can Improve Patient Outcomes

December 15, 2011 — PolicyLab researcher Evan Fieldston, MD, MBA, MSHP, worked with a multidisciplinary team of researchers including nurses, physicians, quality improvement specialists, and operations management to conduct a real-time observation of how beds in the PICU of an urban, tertiary-care children’s hospital were used over a total of 824 hours (representing 19,887 patient bed hours, total).

PICU used to deliver non-critical care services at times when beds are not available elsewhere

The researchers found that while the majority of bed use in the PICU was devoted to delivering critical care services (82 percent), periods of non-critical care services represented a significant amount of time. In particular, periods with no bed available for new patients were associated with at least one or more PICU beds being used for non-critical care activities, such as an excessively long amount of time for room preparation.

PICU a critical component of managing patient flow

Because the PICU is a crossroads for so many hospital patients, it represents a critical component of managing patient flow, and is linked to the quality, safety, and cost of patient care. Transfer or discharge delays can negatively impact patient outcomes and opportunity losses (eg, postponed surgery, diverted transports or inability to accept patients).

Study offers a method for analyzing operations and improving patient flow

“This study provides a method for hospitals to conduct an operational analysis and determine points of focus to improve patient flow — not just in the ICU but in other hospital settings. Our findings strongly suggest that a good place to start is to target the non-clinical processes, such as bed assignment or time to clean rooms,” explained Dr. Fieldston. “This methodology is valuable because it identifies bottlenecks that would have been difficult to identify by reviewing administrative records.”

More information

Read the study abstract in the Journal of Hospital Medicine.

About PolicyLab

PolicyLab at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia develops evidence-based solutions for the most challenging health-related issues affecting children. PolicyLab engages in research that is both responsive to community needs and relevant to policy priorities, partnering with practitioners, policymakers, and families throughout the research process. Through its work, PolicyLab identifies the programs, practices and policies that support the best outcomes for children and their families, disseminating its findings beyond research and academic communities as part of its commitment to transform evidence to action. For more information about PolicyLab, visit the PolicyLab website.