The Surge Plan took a proactive approach. Additional space was created and five rooms were added on a temporary basis by utilizing some vacant rooms outside of triage and relocating the offices of a department director and coordinator. The ICU waiting room can also be occupied on a temporary basis and turned into two exam rooms. Carts stocked with supplies were added to the new rooms. The plan called for staffing by one MD and one new RN, in addition to the Triage Nurse already stationed in the area. Computer access could be achieved using laptops. The hospital was given formulas and predictive patient visit models for determining when the Surge Plan would be engaged. In the event of a surge, a group identified as the "Call-Back Six" were put "on call" to help until the volume becomes manageable again. The "Call-Back Six" consist of an ED Tech, an RN, a Discharge RN, a Registrar, a Radiology Tech and a Lab Tech.

"It was great timing to have Compirion here to help us before the volume hit. It was busy, but the good news was the workflow redesign made the increased volume tolerable and workable; otherwise, it would have been a disaster. We made our processes parallel instead of linear. This was a huge achievement," said Rebecca Powell, Chief Nursing Officer.  

Medical Director for the Emergency Department, Dr. Daniel Bywaters added, "I shudder to think what would have happened if our friends from Compirion hadn't been here. Now it is busy but not as difficult as it was before Compirion came. It is much better, even at these volumes, now that our process has improved. I am very appreciative that Compirion has helpful, courteous, hardworking and effective people. They have been a pleasure for me to work with."

SOURCE Compirion Healthcare Solutions, LLC