'Virtual beds' lower flow times, boost satisfaction.

Here's an approach that makes optimal use of space and time in the ED. It's not as easy as it sounds, however; be prepared to work hard at communications between your nurses and physicians. Take patients who potentially can be discharged quickly, put them in a room, examine them, then discharge them or put them back in a waiting room after ancillary testing. Order lab or radiology testing up front. Patients may be taken to those departments or testing is done in another area of the ED. Identifying nonurgent patients is a useful strategy for overcoming nurses' objections. One ED tried the system, but abandoned it due to volume increase.