Authors (including presenting author) :
HUNG PS(1), CHAN CC(1)
Affiliation :
(1) A&E Department, Tuen Mun Hospital, Hospital Authority, Hong Kong
Introduction :
Upon winter surge in public hospital setting, it was understood that high bed occupancy was invariably observed in hospital especially in acute specialties. We experienced the past winter surge that we were not only faced bed crisis but also the great challenge of sudden surge of infectious control in Tuen Mun Hospital. Such sub-optimal situation should bring high workload to clinical staffs included exaggerating patient cares and staff morale. Therefore, temporary Emergency Medicine (EM) beds with its specialist-led care, expeditious diagnostic services, and strong allied-health support needed to be in place prior winter surge to enhance hospital bed capacity from Jan 18 to May 18. Most importantly, the high teamwork amongst different department was crucial the true north to tackle the war.
Objectives :
1. To enlarge service capacity by increasing temporary Emergency Medicine (EM) admission beds for targeted patients
2. To minimize the occurrence of admission block in TMH
3. To increase staff morale
Methodology :
1. Increased additional 60-65 temporary EM in wards B7 and C2 extends from 6/1/2018 to 31/5/2018
2. Provided 3-4 beds Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA) beds to decongested NS D2 ward’s bed crisis from 2/5/2018
3. Developed combined specialty service model to receive EM, DSA (NS) & VRE (NS) patients in ward B7.
Result & Outcome :
1. Around addition 3,000 acute admissions were arranged to decongest hospital beds crisis. 2. Provided extra 3-4 beds to receive around 15 DSA cases in ward B7 to decongest NS bed crisis. 3. Collaborated with NS to arrange 12 isolation beds for receiving VRE cases to tackle infectious control in hospital; & 4. It was noted that the access block cases were highly decreased by over 40% compared with no additional EM beds in Tuen Mun Hospital. With the enhanced service capacity by providing additional EM beds and the collaboration of patient care model with NS in ward B7 during the winter surge period and infectious crisis, it was not only decongested the overcrowding in M&G and NS ward, but it also tackled the VRE outbreak and enhanced patient quality cares as well as increased staff morale in TMH. Leadership, mutual trusts and teamwork are highly paramount to overcome crisis in healthcare setting.
Co-location with:
