MercyOne’s new emergency department reduces wait times, overcrowding

MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center is introducing a new initiative to reduce emergency department wait times, enabling patients to receive treatment faster and be discharged more quickly.

As part of its ongoing emergency department expansion, MercyOne is adopting a split-flow model which directs patients with less serious conditions to a ‘fast-track’ area, leaving more specialized resources to treat patients with more serious conditions. This dedicated fast-track space has specialized staff who can treat less severe illnesses and injuries, enabling these patients to be discharged sooner. If a fast-track patient needs a higher level of care, they can be easily transferred to the main emergency department.

“Our overall goal is to decrease wait times while prioritizing patient safety and comfort,” said Sydney Leach, MD, emergency department medical director. “Quicker wait times also reduces overcrowding which increases patient satisfaction.”

For now, MercyOne patients will notice only subtle changes to the admission process.

“Patients will continue entering through the emergency department entrance, where they are triaged and assigned to either the fast-track area or the main emergency department for care,” explained Leasha Trease, RN, emergency department director. 

Part of this project involved remodeling an existing patient care area next to the emergency department to accommodate fast-track patients. Refinements to the triage process and patient flow patterns will continue to be made in the coming months.

“For most patients, coming to the emergency department usually isn’t high on a list of enjoyable experiences,” said Leach. “These improvements should help move the needle and make their experience as pleasant as possible.”   

The new split-flow model is set to take effect Monday, October 20.