SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Evaluating the Impact of a Second-Level Observation Unit on Patient Outcomes at a Large Academic Health Center

Evaluating the Impact of a Second-Level Observation Unit on Patient Outcomes at a Large Academic Health Center

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This study evaluated the impact of adding a second-level observation unit (OU) at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, alongside an existing type 1 OU. Observation units are used to manage patients who need short-term monitoring without full inpatient admission, and they can improve efficiency and reduce costs.<br /><br />The second-level OU consisted of 14 beds on a dedicated medical-surgical unit. It was used for observation-status patients who did not meet criteria for placement in the emergency department type 1 OU. These patients were cared for by a multidisciplinary team including nurses, case managers, pharmacists, and hospital medicine providers.<br /><br />Researchers compared patient outcomes before and after implementation of the second-level OU during calendar year 2019. Outcomes included length of stay, admission rate, and bed-days saved.<br /><br />The study found that implementing the second-level OU was associated with improved efficiency. Specifically, it reduced length of stay, lowered the rate of conversion from observation to inpatient admission, and increased bed-days saved. <br /><br />The authors concluded that a second-level OU, when used together with a type 1 OU and managed by hospital medicine providers, can improve patient flow and may generate healthcare cost savings. They suggest that other hospitals may benefit from adopting a similar model.

Asset Subtitle

Richard Kazibwe

Meta Tag

Author List Chi-Cheng Huang, Padageshwar R. Sunkara, Richard Kazibwe, William C. Lippert

Category Innovations

Concept Observation Unit

Concept Second-Level Observation Unit

Concept Length of Stay

Concept Admission Rate

Concept Bed-Day Savings

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization Wake Forest University School of Medicine

Presenting Author Richard Kazibwe

Track Transitions of Care

Keywords

observation unit

second-level observation unit

patient flow

length of stay

inpatient admission

bed-days saved

hospital efficiency

multidisciplinary team

hospital medicine

healthcare cost savings

Observation Unit

Second-Level Observation Unit

Length of Stay

Admission Rate

Bed-Day Savings