Improving patients' flow in a busy emergency department by DPR (dedicated phlebotomy room) technique

Background: This study is a quality improvement project that aimed at improving patient flow in Male Urgent Area (MUA), one of the busiest areas in the largest emergency department in the state of Qatar. Methods: The baseline process was designed by mapping and drawing a cause-and-effect diagram. Pre- and post-auditing was done after careful intervention of introducing a phlebotomy room in Male See and Treat area, the main feeder to MUA. The feeding areas to MUA and the daily flow of patients were studied in detail. Points of interest in the baseline process map were identified and targeted. Supporting data of about 398 patients helped in designing the process map and identifying the point of interest. Results: Post-intervention analysis showed a remarkable improvement in time to phlebotomy in Hamad General Hospital Emergency Department. The proportion of patients moving to MUA and receiving phlebotomy increased from 48.6% to 84.1% in the first hour. Patients' hematological laboratory workup that helps MU...