KLAS: Patient flow tools get high marks
One-fifth of hospitals surveyed have implemented patient flow products, and nine out of 10 of those current users said they'd make this same choice again, according to a recent study by KLAS.
The report, “Patient Flow 2011: Relieving Hospital Pressure," looked at patient flow products from three leading vendors—Allscripts, McKesson and TeleTracking—plus up-and-comers. According to the report, 85 percent of the 200-plus providers interviewed said they had benefited from these systems, citing improved resource collaboration and smoother communication as the primary advantages.
"Patient flow systems are communication tools that, when optimized, can illuminate underutilized resources in crowded hospitals and EDs," stated Orem, Utah-based KLAS. "In this study, providers reported achieving better bed management, increased visibility from tracking boards, and overall clearer communication as a result of employing these products."
Currently, only about 20 percent of hospitals surveyed said they use a comprehensive patient flow system to coordinate bed management, environmental services and transport resources. However, nearly a dozen vendors besides those mentioned in the report—including Cerner, Epic, GE and Siemens—are planning or developing patient flow products in response to growing demand, KLAS stated.
"As ED volumes continue to increase, the value of an optimized patient flow system will also increase," KLAS concluded. "In the last 20 years, access to emergency departments has diminished, but the need for these services has grown.”
McKesson Horizon Enterprise Visibility earned the highest rating in the report. TeleTracking Capacity Management Suite was next, followed by Allscripts (Eclipsys) Sunrise Patient Flow.
The report, “Patient Flow 2011: Relieving Hospital Pressure," looked at patient flow products from three leading vendors—Allscripts, McKesson and TeleTracking—plus up-and-comers. According to the report, 85 percent of the 200-plus providers interviewed said they had benefited from these systems, citing improved resource collaboration and smoother communication as the primary advantages.
"Patient flow systems are communication tools that, when optimized, can illuminate underutilized resources in crowded hospitals and EDs," stated Orem, Utah-based KLAS. "In this study, providers reported achieving better bed management, increased visibility from tracking boards, and overall clearer communication as a result of employing these products."
Currently, only about 20 percent of hospitals surveyed said they use a comprehensive patient flow system to coordinate bed management, environmental services and transport resources. However, nearly a dozen vendors besides those mentioned in the report—including Cerner, Epic, GE and Siemens—are planning or developing patient flow products in response to growing demand, KLAS stated.
"As ED volumes continue to increase, the value of an optimized patient flow system will also increase," KLAS concluded. "In the last 20 years, access to emergency departments has diminished, but the need for these services has grown.”
McKesson Horizon Enterprise Visibility earned the highest rating in the report. TeleTracking Capacity Management Suite was next, followed by Allscripts (Eclipsys) Sunrise Patient Flow.