Questionnaire Shaves Wait Times for Gastrointestinal Patients

With a goal to reduce patient wait times after gastrointestinal procedure to discharge from 23 minutes to 13 minutes, this unit-based team created a questionnaire and trained staff on the new process. Members asked the receptionists to hand the form to GI procedure patients at check-in. They decreased the RN time to review the entire document in detail and focus on patients' specific questions. Patients were also given a choice between RN discharge or MD discharge. Wait time fell to five minutes.

Here's What Worked

• Creating a questionnaire and training staff on the new process
• Partnering with the business office supervisor and asking the receptionists to hand the form to all GI procedure patients at check-in
• Decreasing/minimizing the RN time to review the entire document in detail and focus on patients' specific questions
• Giving patients a choice between RN discharge or MD discharge

What can your team do to improve efficiencies in your department? What else could your team do to help shorten patients' wait times?