Twelve participants responded to the items provided in the initial assessment. However, in the second week, 1 dropped out because they had a busy schedule. Nonetheless, the following observations were made from the open-ended questions. First, most participants listed education, communication, teamwork as key components to reduced LOS. Second, they also cost to patients and the hospital, caregiver reputation, and nurse burnout as the issues surrounding increased LOS. However, a majority state that the presence of miscommunication, poor management, poor services, and lack of proper tracking mechanisms meant that the hospitals were doing little to address LOS/excuse days. Finally, many viewed the need to reduce LOS as essential to the hospital and patient management for quality assurance. These results show that the change proposal is worth addressing (Miani, et al., 2014).
The four closed-ended questions tested for perception, hospital achievement, staff experience, LOS as an issue, and the growing concern of LOS. From the Table 1 results, perception, LOS as an issue, and the growing concern of LOS had similar scores. That is, 11 out of the 12 respondents agreed that LOS has a negative impact on the hospital, LOS as an issue and that LOS was a concern worth an appropriate intervention. These figures correspond to 91 percent for affirmation and 8 percent disagreement. Furthermore, 67 percent agreed that the facility lacked effective measures to help reduce LOS. Finally, 83 percent of the respondents said that experience can help reduce LOS (Hunter, Johnson, & Coustasse, 2014).
During the second intervention, the following results were evident (see chart 2). First, all of the eleven participants, or 100 percent, agreed that LOS has a negative impact on the hospital and LOS as an issue. However, only one participant disagreed that LOS was a concern worth an appropriate intervention. Furthermore, 88 percent of these participants agree that experience plays an important role in facilitating a nurse’s approach to reduced LOS. Finally, 90 percent agreed that the hospital lacked appropriate measures to help in reducing LOS (Miani, et al., 2014).
References
Hunter, A., Johnson, L., & Coustasse, A. (2014). Reduction of Intensive Care Unit Length of Stay: The Case of Early Mobilization. Journal of the Health Care Manager, 33(2), 128-135.
Miani, C., Ball, S., Pitchforth, E., Exley, J., King, S., Roland, M., . . . Nolte, E. (2014). Organisational interventions to reduce length of stay in hospital: a rapid evidence assessment. Health Services and Delivery Research, 2(52)., 1-145.
Data Collection Chart
