SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-A Win-Win-Win: Ed-Hospitalist Alerts to Optimize Communication, Experience, and Patient Flow

Pdf Summary

A large community hospital identified major problems in the ED-to-inpatient admission process, which depended on inefficient phone calls. These handoffs were often delayed, incomplete, and inconsistent, leading to poor communication, dissatisfaction among ED and hospitalist providers, unsafe or inappropriate patient placement, and overuse of telemetry beds. This contributed to ED overcrowding and strain on telemetry capacity.<br /><br />To address these issues, an interprofessional team launched a standardized electronic handoff process in January 2025. The intervention used Microsoft Forms to capture essential admission details, including required documentation for telemetry indications and specialty unit needs. Microsoft Power Automate then triggered a Microsoft Teams chat between ED providers and hospitalists, with bed board involvement to support appropriate placement. Rapid PDSA cycles were used to refine the workflow.<br /><br />The project focused on ED patients requiring admission to inpatient services. Pre- and post-intervention data were collected on telemetry use, specialty unit placement, and provider satisfaction.<br /><br />Preliminary findings suggest the tool improved communication between ED providers and hospitalists, increased satisfaction with the handoff process, and improved adherence to evidence-based telemetry criteria and appropriate specialty unit placement. Since February 2025, the tool has been used to triage and admit more than 10,000 patients, showing strong scalability and ease of use. The intervention also improved engagement among clinical and nonclinical team members, including bed board staff.<br /><br />Overall, this electronic, provider-centric handoff model appears to be a scalable and sustainable solution for improving admission communication, patient flow, and care placement while reducing unnecessary telemetry use.

Asset Subtitle

Leah Fow

Meta Tag

Author List Aiden Smyth, David Reens, George Surguladze, Leah Fow, Sarah Eckardt, William Folk

Category Innovations

Concept Handoff Tool

Concept Admission Workflow

Concept Telemetry Indication

Concept Patient Placement

Concept Multidisciplinary Collaboration

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization Northwell Health

Presenting Author Leah Fow

Track Technology in Hospital Medicine

Keywords

emergency department

inpatient admission

electronic handoff

patient flow

telemetry utilization

bed placement

Microsoft Forms

Microsoft Teams

provider satisfaction

PDSA cycle

Handoff Tool

Admission Workflow

Telemetry Indication

Patient Placement

Multidisciplinary Collaboration