How can technology better support acute patient care?

While health systems are committed to delivering on the quadruple aim of providing patients with the best care and outcomes possible, it is still a balancing act. With clinician shortages and the need to keep costs low, improving clinical and operational efficiencies without compromising care is no easy task.

Managing patient flow in acute care continues to be a high priority for many health systems. Patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) account for the highest costs in hospitals and pose the greatest risk for hospital-acquired infections. In addition to associated costs and health concerns, ICU patients tend to receive a bad reputation due to lengthy stays and can be considered “bottleneck patients.” These patients are frequently delayed in getting transferred out of the ICU to the lower acuity department, which can hinder the ability to admit incoming patients as there aren’t enough beds. This causes overly-crowded, disorganized ICUs, but also delays patients receiving the appropriate treatment to get them to recover in their homes quicker. 

Along with over-crowded ICUs and waiting rooms, hospitals are filled with hundreds of medical devices producing an infinite amount of data – it’s overwhelming to the everyday person, but imagine the stress and inundation of information our clinicians are experiencing. Physicians often report feeling overworked, which can lead to high rates of burnout and increased risk for medical errors. Not only does this burden impact physicians mentally, but it is also taxing to hospitals economically. A recent study shows that having physicians in the clinic for fewer hours or having to replace those who leave the profession can cost the industry up to an average of $4.6 billion yearly.

Despite current challenges, there’s no need to lose hope in how we’re planning to close these gaps in care and improve patient flow throughout the hospital. A vital part of the solution? Clinical operation centers, or commonly known as command centers. We’re beginning to see the rise of command centers across the U.S. as health systems realize the potential – both in reducing costs and clinician burnout, while not compromising care for patients.

Tackling healthcare’s biggest challenges with virtual command centers

Hospital command centers have been gaining traction in recent years. In the current healthcare climate, there is a movement away from centers that are in “command and control,” and the need for widespread adoption is crucial to improve patient outcomes and workflow efficiencies. As an industry, we continuously highlight the importance of the right care, in the right place, at the right time. To make this statement a reality, command centers are the answer, with the necessary components to better manage patient flow and logistics with monitors that display actionable insights. 

Like most tech solutions in healthcare, command centers have continuously evolved since their inception. The first generation of command centers focused on operations, but now, the next-generation centers are incorporating clinical metrics to drive operational decisions and improve the quality of care. With advanced clinical-decision support, workflow change management and integrated audio-visual technology, command centers have the ability to help reduce medical complications before they occur. Clinicians no longer need to check patients’ vital signs periodically. With telehealth and advanced connected solutions, they have a clear view into a patient’s condition through a continuous live-stream of data flowing from bedside monitors to the command center. Here, intelligent algorithms help identify and prioritize patients for early intervention, providing physicians with the information necessary to make the best, most accurate decisions for the patient. Its predictive, virtual capabilities also ensure downstream bed availability by coordinating ICU transfers and floor discharges – all components that should make command centers an essential strategy for improving ICU utilization.