Problem Identified
The lack of PACU availability causes a patient to be brought back to the OR for recovery.
Solution Implemented
Fewer Disruptions
Patient Safety
A real-time schedule was made transparent to the PACU and recovery units. PACU personnel now track in real-time the status of all procedures scheduled and on going in the OR. The click of a single button by a circulator in an OR alerts the PACU that the procedure is closing and to prepare for the arrival of the patient. The alerts are visible to everyone. The PACU responds by assigning the patient a bed on the master schedule, which in turn, expedites the transfer of the patient directly to the assigned bed.
Benefits Documented
Clinical and clerical staffs have experienced significant decreases in inquiries, phone calls, and other disruptions due to PACU coordination. They have also acknowledged a reduction in stress and having more time to focus clinical attention on their patients. These results have directly improved patient safety, staff satisfaction, and operating efficiency.