Q&A
Ambulance transfer wait times and reasons for delays
1:59:47
·
5 min
Dr. Birnbaum explains the factors contributing to ambulance transfer wait times and delays at H+H emergency departments. The primary reason cited is the increase in patient volume since 2020.
- Ambulance turnaround time includes the total time from arrival to when the ambulance is back in service
- The main factor leading to increased turnaround times is higher patient volume in emergency departments
- H+H is looking forward to implementing the hospital liaison officer role to improve efficiency in patient handoffs
- Council Member Narcisse expresses confusion about the current triage process compared to past practices
- Dr. Birnbaum mentions that surges in patient arrivals (up to 28 patients per hour at busy facilities) can contribute to delays
- Patients are still prioritized based on acuity, with the most urgent cases seen immediately
Mercedes Narcisse
1:59:47
Ambulance transfer with times.
1:59:49
What is the average wait time for ambulances to transfer patients to HNH emergency departments?
1:59:55
And have this times changed over the past 3 years?
1:59:59
We heard it before, like they have to transfer the patients.
2:00:02
Sometimes they have to give it to the another step.
2:00:05
And can you answer that question for me?
Adrienne Birnbaum
2:00:08
So the ambulance turnaround time is the total amount of time from when the ambulance would arrive at the destination facility until that ambulance is back in service for the next patient.
2:00:20
Our part in that process is to take the hand off from EMS and transfer the care to our our hospital staff.
2:00:34
We're very much looking forward to the implementation of the hospital liaison officer that was discussed earlier.
2:00:41
We think that that will really be a great improvement to improve the efficiency of the handoff from the prehospital care to the emergency department care.
Mercedes Narcisse
2:00:56
Delays?
2:00:57
What are the primary reasons for ambulance delays?
2:01:00
And how has HNH adapted protocols to address these challenges?
Adrienne Birnbaum
2:01:08
The primary factor leading to increase turnaround times is related to the volume of patients that come into our emergency department.
2:01:17
So we have seen increases in our emergency department visits.
2:01:24
Since from 2020 to the present time.
2:01:28
And we despite that, we have been able to scale up and see those patients, and we we will continue to do that in the future.
Mercedes Narcisse
2:01:40
Mhmm.
2:01:41
One other thing I don't I don't understand.
2:01:43
I know there's changes, but don't you have a triage nurse that receive the ambulance when they worked in.
2:01:49
I mean, when they bring the patient in?
2:01:52
Because I don't understand why the the trend I was processing it because before in my time, once the ambulances come in, they stop by the triage, and we pick up the patient, and we take it away, and then that's it.
2:02:07
So I don't know what took place.
2:02:09
It's the volumes.
2:02:10
That's the problem.
2:02:11
That the triage nurse cannot get to it or understaffed.
2:02:15
One person can answer.
2:02:16
I don't because I'm I'm confused about it.
2:02:17
Because once an ambulance come, we take it as an emergency.
2:02:21
So the other nurses that's on the floor will be in a in emergency room will take the walk in patient, and the one for their ambulance, we try to get them out back.
2:02:33
So I don't know where we what's going on.
2:02:36
So can you explain to me how that happened?
Adrienne Birnbaum
2:02:39
Well, it certainly can be related to the volume of arrivals and also surges in that volume.
2:02:46
Right?
2:02:46
So, you know, for example, our busiest facility during the busiest hour of the day could receive 28 patients in an hour, not all from ambulance, but inclusive of the walk ins as well.
2:02:59
So those sorts of surges, you know, can lead to that.
2:03:05
But we always see patients in terms of their acuity.
2:03:09
And so those that are, you know, have most urgent and life threatening problems are immediately taken and cared for regardless of you know, of how many patients are arriving at a given time.
2:03:22
But we also do receive a fairly large amount of lower acuity patients at the same time.
Mercedes Narcisse
2:03:29
So to me, somewhat like lack of staffing or the capacity of the emergency room.
Adrienne Birnbaum
2:03:36
We're constantly reevaluating and we staff up as we need to.
2:03:40
Mhmm.
2:03:41
You know, but volumes certainly have
Santa Morales
2:03:43
increased over the
Adrienne Birnbaum
2:03:43
last since, you know, since 2020, including the acuity of the patients and also the volume of lower acuity patients.
Mercedes Narcisse
2:03:56
So now that brings me to another question.
2:03:59
The space capacity because I know some of your ear.
2:04:04
The space is very limited.
2:04:06
You have patient all over the place.
2:04:09
What are we doing to make sure that we increase the capacity to of the space?
2:04:14
And the staffing together.
2:04:16
What are we doing?
Adrienne Birnbaum
2:04:17
Well, in situations where we either have limited space or are anticipating, you know, having more volume over time, we are always advocating for, you know, for for improvements in the in the space, and and we do appreciate the support that we get from the council when we come with those sorts of of requests when the budget is being
Mercedes Narcisse
2:04:44
created.
2:04:45
Okay.
2:04:45
Because I know some one of the era specifically is crying out.
2:04:51
There's no space.
2:04:52
So we need to do something about that because it's really impacting the services.
2:04:56
They have gear because folks are complaining as well and it's not good.
2:05:02
Has the increase in ED visit impacted ambulance arrival in afloat times at high volumes location like Jacoby and Belvieu
Adrienne Birnbaum
2:05:17
ET arrivals have increased at all.
2:05:20
Our facilities, some more than others, but we continue to see all the patients that come to us and provide care for them.
