We are thrilled to share the success of the Discharge Lounge at KP Modesto, which officially opened on August 12, 2024. This initiative has been a game-changer in enhancing patient flow and optimizing care delivery.
At the start of the year, our average discharge time from the inpatient area was 170 minutes. Thanks to the Discharge Lounge, we are now approaching our target of 120 minutes, with October averaging just 129 minutes. Month by month, we’ve seen significant progress. This improvement has enabled us to alleviate pressure on the inpatient areas, creating more capacity for patients awaiting admission from the Emergency Department or recovery room. The current process is interdependent on the availability of light duty RNs which has allowed the staff to have a valuable role in helping our members. Some key items that they have been able to provide to members and their families are important readmission prevention strategies such as going to obtain their prescribed medications and the education that goes along with those medications. The key factor that these nurses can provide is a more thorough discharge teaching to allow the primary RN to assist with other throughput strategies with their patient assignments.
The Discharge Lounge is designed to offer a welcoming hospitality area for patients who are ready for discharge but delayed for “simple” reasons, such as waiting for transportation. With comfortable seating, TV, books, crossword puzzles, and light refreshments, the space ensures patients are cared for in a comfortable environment until they can leave the medical center safely.
Our dedicated staff have been equipped with tailored communication tools to explain the lounge’s purpose effectively, and we’ve developed a comprehensive Playbook to support other facilities interested in adopting this best practice. Thank you to our fellow NCAL facilities that have pioneered this process. We are excited to see what our future average minutes will be as we continue to apply the PDSA process. Stay tuned!