Time studies identify interventions to boost patient flow in your ED.

According to researchers who completed a five-year study at the Olive View-University of California at Los Angeles Medical Center in Sylmar, CA, time studies are the most effective way to identify delays and improve efficiency in the ED. Time studies may reveal that your assumptions about delays are incorrect. A five-year study showed a connection between the median waiting time to see a physician and the number of patients who leave without being seen. Constructing a time study allows you to understand all the steps in patient care. Identify who is responsible for each increment of time, including the registration clerk, bed control staff person, nurses, X-ray personnel, lab staff, and physicians.