Team-based Pod System Reduces Lengths of Stay for Treat-and-Release Patients.

To boost performance on a range of metrics, the 55-bed ED at NYU Lutheran Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY, transitioned to a pod system in August 2016. The approach, which is designed to foster team-based care, involves assigning physicians and nurses to designated geographic areas throughout the day, minimizing the movement of physicians as well as the need for phone communication. When coupled with other changes, including the introduction of point-of- care testing, the pod initiative has enabled the ED to reduce lengths of stay for all treat-and-release patients to less than three hours for the first time in the history of the department, according to administrators.

Pharmacist improves timely administration of medications to boarded patients in the emergency department.

Purpose: Our purpose was to assess the variations in timely administration of medications based on differences in nursing staff (ED nurses who are responsible for emergency and boarded patients vs inpatient nurses who are responsible for only boarded patients) and to determine whether a pharmacist's interventions can improve the timely administration of medications to boarded patients in the emergency department.

Methods: This was a prospective observational study. Patients were included in the study if they were aged 18 years or older, were physically located in the emergency department but had already been admitted to the medical center, and had medication orders.