Pull Methodology― and Support from the Top―Improves Patient Throughput at Huntington Hospital

LISTEN TIME: 13:05

Will Folk, Assistant Director of Nursing, Patient Logistics, at Huntington Hospital [part of Northwell Health] in Huntington, NY, shares how through extensive research he was able to create a patient throughput improvement plan that utilized a pull methodology to improve the RN handoff process―and consequently patient care. 

What You’ll Learn in Today’s Episode:

• With the pull methodology approach, accountability starts at the top and cascades down to all other employees. Ownership is on the receiving unit to “pull” up the patient instead of the patient being “pushed.” This shift in process means all the performance metrics are tied to the receiving units instead of the sending units.

• In two short months, the hand-off times between nursing units decreased by 30 minutes. Both the sending and receiving units have commented on how much interactions between the two have improved.  

• Unit performance is shared at a monthly throughput meeting and metrics are also shared with the executive team on a daily basis.

• Ready-to-Move data points show the time metrics of the patient moving through the process—from physician orders to bed availability, to bed cleans, to bed assignment, to the bed being occupied. Another important benefit of Ready-to-Move is that it mentally prepares the sending area and the sending nurse to have their patient ready—as well as connecting the ability of the bed assignment team and the patient logistics team to align their processes to maximize the effectiveness of the technology.