How to Handle ED Patients Who Do Not Need To Be Admitted

Do you need a solution on how to handle your Emergency Department patients who do not need to be admitted to the hospital, but are not ready for discharge from the ED?

William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan implemented a solution that they have found to work well in their emergency department. The solution was titled: "Clinical Decision Unit". This solution was suited for those patients who need to still be monitored without using valuable inpatient space by admitting them to the hospital.

• Guidelines for the Clinical Decision Unit were developed based on best practices from hospitals around the country. 
• The support of physicians and hospital leadership was critical to the success of the Clinical Decision Unit.

The reasons they implemented the Clinical Decision Unit were because of the following:

• The hospital was missing myocardial infarctions (MIs) and admitting patients with chest pain who did not have acute coronary syndrome
• Bed availability was an issue, hospital occupancy rates routinely over 90 percent (where they remain today)
• Lack of bed availability triggered ambulance diversion

To view and download the solution for your emergency department, please click the following link: Clinical Decision Unit