The hospital manages the flow of patients throughout the hospital.

(1)

The hospital measures and sets goals for the components of the patient flow process, including the following: - Available supply of patient beds - Throughput of areas where patients receive care, treatment, and services (such as inpatient units, laboratory, operating rooms, telemetry, radiology, and the postanesthesia care unit) - Safety of areas where patients receive care, treatment, and services - Efficiency of the nonclinical services that support patient care and treatment (such as housekeeping and transportation) - Access to support services (such as case management and social work)

(2)

The hospital measures and sets goals for mitigating and managing the boarding of patients who come through the emergency department. (Refer to NPG.01.05.02, EP 1; NPG.08.01.01, EPs 1 and 2) Note: Boarding is the practice of holding patients in the emergency department or another temporary location after the decision to admit or transfer has been made. The hospital should set its goals with attention to patient acuity and best practice.

(3)

The individuals who manage patient flow processes review measurement results to determine whether goals were achieved, and leaders take action to improve patient flow processes when goals are not achieved. Note: At a minimum, leaders include members of the medical staff and governing body, the chief executive officer and other senior managers, the nurse executive, clinical leaders, and staff members in leadership positions within the organization. (See the Glossary for the definition of leader.)