Bright ideas at Northern Lights

Access, functionality, patient flow and communication.

They are all areas staff and physicians at the Northern Lights Regional Health Centre emergency department wanted to improve two years ago.
 
And they have.

“I’m proud of the efforts our physicians, nurses, allied health professionals and administrators have made as a team to improve the patient experience in our emergency department,” says site medical director Dr. Kevin Worry.

The Fort McMurray hospital has decreased the number of patients waiting more than 15 minutes to see a triage nurse by more than 30 per cent since 2008.

During that time, the number of patients waiting more than two hours to see a physician has decreased by 15 per cent.

The improvements were cited in a January report by the Health Quality Council of Alberta.

These improvements resulted, in part, from a new triage process, which uses an electronic tracking system to monitor patients’ treatment in emergency.

Department manager Leona Hammond says patients immediately see a triage nurse who assesses their condition using the Canadian Emergency Department Triage and Acuity Scale.

“That means the people with the greatest needs are being seen first,” she says.

Dr. Brian Dufresne, chief of Northern Lights’ Emergency Department, calls the improvements encouraging.

“Changes in triage, enhanced crisis intervention and a referral basis for family doctors are all steps we made in the right direction,” he says.

Other changes have eased pressures elsewhere at Northern Lights.

A bed utilization co-ordinator has helped free up beds for emergency department patients waiting to be admitted to the hospital.

“It has helped us tremendously; it helps us with the flow,” Hammond says. “That’s been a huge positive impact.”

Other changes ensure patients receive the care they need in the community. Chronically ill patients are directly referred to primary care networks, connecting them to both care and appropriate resources.

Two years ago, many local residents did not have a family physician and the emergency department was their only alternative. As a result, emergency often saw patients with chronic medical problems normally dealt with at a family clinic.

To address this, physician recruitment was put in high gear. Fifteen new family physicians were brought to the area. They’ve been integrated into the primary care network, further easing the demand on emergency.

“Increasing the percentage of patients with a family doctor by 10 per cent, from 73 to 83 per cent, is a major step in the right direction,” Worry says.

New equipment and renovations have also improved emergency care. The Ambulatory Care department, which sees 1,300 patients a week, was moved out of emergency, freeing space for its staff, physicians and patients.

Further renovations to Northern Lights’ emergency (expected to start this year) will enhance the patient experience and meet the future needs of the community.

 “While we are encouraged by the results of the Quality Council’s report, our whole team at Northern Lights is always seeking ways to improve the care we offer our community,” Worry says.