SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Accountable Care Unit Improves Length of Stay and Patient Experience

Pdf Summary

Utah Valley Hospital in Provo, Utah piloted an accountable care unit (ACU) on a 36-bed medical-surgical floor starting in August 2022. The model used two main strategies: geographic cohorting of patients and a daily interdisciplinary huddle. Participants included nursing staff, hospitalist physicians, case managers, occupational and physical therapists, pharmacists, and hospitalist coordinators. Physicians, hospitalist coordinators, and bedside nurses also rounded together using a structured bedside agenda, supported by the KATA continuous improvement tool.<br /><br />The project aimed to improve length of stay (LOS), patient and care team satisfaction, and efficiency. Results showed a significant reduction in LOS by 12 hours. Patient willingness to recommend the hospital improved substantially, with likelihood to recommend (LTR) increasing from the 61st percentile to the 91st percentile. Patient perception of physician communication also improved dramatically, rising from the 2nd percentile to the 90th percentile. In addition, discharge planning efficiency improved, with time spent on unit discharge planning decreasing from 60 minutes per day to 25 minutes per day.<br /><br />The team concluded that the interdisciplinary rounding model improved LOS, LTR, and care team efficiency. Next steps include expanding the ACU model to all medical-surgical units at Utah Valley Hospital. Challenges remain, including throughput pressures in a busy hospital system and uneven patient census between providers. Future work will examine the impact of the model on provider satisfaction.

Asset Subtitle

Stephanie Stone

Meta Tag

Author List Anne Perry, Linda Venner, Miles Hawley, Monique Mahlum, Stephanie Stone, Zach Pugh

Category Research

Concept Accountable Care Unit

Concept Geographic Cohorting

Concept Interdisciplinary Huddle

Concept KATA

Concept Nursing

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization Intermountain Health

Presenting Author Stephanie Stone

Track Communication

Keywords

Utah Valley Hospital

accountable care unit

interdisciplinary rounding

length of stay

patient satisfaction

care team efficiency

geographic cohorting

daily huddle

discharge planning

hospitalist physicians

Accountable Care Unit

Geographic Cohorting

Interdisciplinary Huddle

KATA

Nursing