Can A Hospitalist Help Your ED Run More Efficiently?

An Emergency Department’s Secret Weapon

Emergency departments (EDs) see millions of patients across the country. To manage this influx of persons, hospitals need systems and strategies. These strategies are not only crucial for the success of the hospital but the health and wellness of the community. Recently, hospitals have seen the benefits of hiring hospitalists in the ED. Hospitalists play a significant role in changing performance and can help the organization run more efficiently.

What exactly is a hospitalist?

The question is not what, but rather who is a hospitalist. A hospitalist is a doctor whose sole focus is the care of hospitalized patients. Some doctors specialize in diseases, parts of the body, or patients at different ages. However, a hospitalist has knowledge in all fields. The goal is to make sure patients are treated and managed well when hospitalized. Hospitalists see patients at every stage in the hospital but hold other vital roles too. With over 60,000 nationwide, the position has proven to be critical for patient care, specifically in the emergency department.

Hospitalists reduce wait times

For an ED to be efficient, the hospital must reduce wait times as much as possible. If doctors are occupied, there will be a considerable wait. This can lead to disgruntled patients and poor stats like LWBS. A hospitalist is an intermediary with the skills needed to assess, treat, and manage a patient. Nurses don’t need to wait for other doctors for advice. With a hospitalist available, everyone benefits from having a doctor in the ED.

A case management leader

A critical part of ED success is case management. Each patient or case needs to be triaged effectively. Hospitals can lose valuable time and money if a patient is incorrectly diagnosed or admitted. A hospitalist can act as a team leader in the ED. The doctor can instruct others on the right steps, find mistakes, and speed up the process. Every process needs a manager, and the hospitalist is perfect for the job.

Hospitalists help with patient flow

One pain point of hospitals is patients who enter with non-life-threatening conditions. This can limit the hospital’s ability to assist patients with more severe issues. Hospitalists can work on minor cases, freeing up time for other doctors to deal with emergency patients. The hospitalist will have enough experience to deal with each subject at each stage. For example, a hospitalist can order an exam or prescribe medication without the need for a referral to another specialist.

A better patient experience

Patients generally feel better when there is a doctor in direct contact in the ED. Furthermore, the patient will have the hospitalist’s attention during the entire process. The hospitalist serves as the intermediary between the patient and primary care provider. That means everyone will be aware of the situation and the solutions needed. Hospitalists are also advocates for better patient care, faster turnaround time, and fewer errors.

Reduced readmissions helps with efficiency

Readmissions play a part in ED efficiency too. Excess readmissions affect the performance of the department and speak to possible inefficiencies. With follow-up calls after the patient gets discharged, the hospitalist reduces the chances of a return. Hospitals and hospitalists who invest in follow-up calls see a decrease in the readmissions metric.

Hospitalists are an excellent investment

Having amazing doctors like hospitalists in the ED can help in more ways than one. These doctors become acutely aware of how the ED works. From there, hospitalists can help the space become more effective and efficient. Hospitals that continue to invest in hospitalists see an improvement in performance. Consider adding a hospitalist to the workforce today.