Intra-unit patient transports: time, motion, and cost impact on hospital efficiency

Nurs Econ. 2005 Jul-Aug;23(4):157-64, 147.

Abstract

The costly and inefficient movement of patients within the hospital challenges health systems across the country as they strive to simultaneously contain rising costs and provide high-quality patient care. Solid evidence to support the improvement of hospital and patient care efficiency through the identification and suggested elimination of waste patterns within the transport process is presented.

MeSH terms

  • Bed Occupancy
  • Clinical Competence / standards
  • Communication Barriers
  • Continuity of Patient Care
  • Data Collection
  • Direct Service Costs
  • Documentation
  • Efficiency, Organizational
  • Forms and Records Control
  • Hospital Administration / standards*
  • Hospital Bed Capacity
  • Humans
  • Models, Organizational
  • Nursing Administration Research
  • Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care
  • Patient Transfer / organization & administration*
  • Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / organization & administration
  • Personnel, Hospital / education
  • Personnel, Hospital / psychology
  • Personnel, Hospital / supply & distribution*
  • Risk Assessment / organization & administration
  • Systems Analysis
  • Time and Motion Studies
  • Total Quality Management / organization & administration
  • Workload