• E-mail
• Print
• RSS

Universal patient floor increases patient flow, decreases handoffs, improves patient safety

Staff Development Weekly: Insight on Evidence-Based Practice in Education, November 13, 2009

Want to receive articles like this one in your inbox? Subscribe to Staff Development Weekly: Insight on Evidence-Based Practice in Education!

In 2007, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles rolled out a “universal floor” during an expansion project. Cedars-Sinai’s innovation has since lowered wait times for patients being admitted from the ED and elsewhere, reduced the number of patient safety events, and increased staff member satisfaction.

A universal floor is one on which most patient consultations can take place. Rooms are created with multiple types of patient care in mind, and staff members are trained in many specialties to facilitate patients’ needs on one floor, reducing the need for patients to travel throughout the hospital.

The idea for developing a universal floor came at a time when the hospital was designing a new critical care tower. Staff members decided to trial the idea after hearing of the success of a universal floor at Methodist Hospital of Clarian Health in Indiana.
In addition to improving patient flow throughout the hospital and reducing patient safety errors, the universal floor has allowed staff members to spend more time with patients, making for a more comfortable patient stay.

Editor’s note: To read the rest of this article, visit: “Universal patient floor increases patient flow, decreases handoffs, improves patient safety” found in the Reading Room at www.strategiesfornursemanagers.com. Get a free trial membership that will give you 30 days to test drive all the exciting features on the Web site.

Want to receive articles like this one in your inbox? Subscribe to Staff Development Weekly: Insight on Evidence-Based Practice in Education!

• E-mail to a Colleague
• Print
• RSS
• Archive