Dear Colleagues:
Ensuring the highest levels of quality patient care will always be one of BWH’s top priorities. I commend your past and continued efforts in this area. In tandem with delivering on such high standards, is a continued focus on length of stay (LOS). We have made great strides on this front, but there is more to accomplish.
The concerted effort over the last two years has brought about desired results. The LOS in FY02 for medical/surgical inpatients was at 5.76 days, but dropped to 5.66 in FY03. Currently, it is our goal to bring the LOS down to 5.55 in FY 04. This is a reduction of another 0.1 day or 2 percent. However, freeing up just that fraction of a day could help accommodate an additional 86 discharges each month, with an associated incremental margin of $5 to $10 million dollars.
With a continued effort to bring down the LOS to 5.55 days, we can improve patient flow and utilization, as well as improve quality of care.
In addition to implementing a new and improved Care Coordination Model, many other components of the multi-year LOS reduction plan for FY02 through FY05 have been met. Elements such as intensive data analysis and reporting; heightened support from physicians and nurses; minimizing delays in getting patients access to appropriate alternative care services (for example, skilled nursing facility placement, or home care visits); a revitalized clinical pathway program; and many hospital-wide clinical management initiatives have been moving forward. Success in each of these areas has been possible due to the combined efforts and dedication of all members of the patient care team. However, work remains in the areas of minimizing BWH facility-related delays; service-specific clinical management initiatives; and further implementing a regionalization plan for the patient Tower.
Over the next several months, you'll be hearing from your department chairs and division chiefs on how to further reduce LOS in your respective areas.
In addition, we are always open to your suggestions on how to achieve this goal. Your ideas may fit in with an initiative already underway, or may represent an untapped opportunity. Your feedback can be directed to Michael Gustafson, MD, MBA, executive director, BWH’s Center for Clinical Excellence.
Sincerely,
Andy Whittemore, MD
Chief Medical Officer