ER for Kids at Broward Health Coral Springs Lives up to its Philosophy
A trip to the ER is known to be a dreaded visit especially due to the extended wait times ERs are typically known for. For the past few years, Broward Health Coral Springs was determined to change that stigma and is now leading the pack ranked as the quickest ER in Broward County by Health Grades, a comprehensive hospital rating and comparison database.
That means from the time you walk in the ER to the time you are registered, taken to a private room and seen by a physician, it takes an average of nine minutes. This shift was a strategic goal of several years in the making. It was based on a “Mushin”(Japanese for silent flow) approach where the medical team is seamlessly trained to follow an efficient model system and mastery of technique intertwined with innovative managerial processes. The forward-thinking healthcare system applied the approach by changing the previous operational structure, hiring additional staff and implementing a belief system that “it is not ok for our patients to wait”— regardless of the condition.
Part of the new process was relocating the Pediatric ER with a more efficient flow and increasing the number of beds. It too prides itself on the “no child should wait” philosophy as the adult section does. These changes have brought improved levels of customer service and wait times far exceeding both state and national bench mark. And what makes the pediatric ER unique amongst others locally is that it is staffed with a medical team specialized ONLY in pediatrics with pediatric sub-specialists.
While “time” is an important component in the ER, quality of care is just as important. Broward Health Coral Springs has demonstrated its commitment to ensure that children receive a higher level of care if needed by opening a new Level II Pediatric Intensive Care Unit(PICU), the only one in West Broward. It specializes in the care of critically ill children rather than having to transfer a child to its sister hospital in Fort Lauderdale.
Flow is a habit now in the ER. Today Broward Health Coral Springs is amongst the best in patient flow metrics. http://www.browardhealth.org/BHCSkids
