Question

The nursing team focused on the low acuity area of the ED at Kaiser rather then mid-acuity or high-acuity. Was this the best area to select for efficiency? If so, justify your answer. If not, which area should they have focused on (medium/high acuity)? The case closes with a capacity challenge. What options might you offer to address the concerns listed?

Answer 1

Health care model Kaiser permanent is a system to deliver unique health care.goal is to keep people healthy to live long.In this model physicians can practice medicine without any commitment towards profit insurance companies.

Emergency department operates in the principle that high acuity patients receive first priority than low acuity patients.prioritizing so saves both lives and money and reduce mortality rate.In this case it was a wrong choice treating low acuity patient.Here low acuity patient increase wait time of high acuity patient increasing the risk of death rates.

Two things must be done i.e prioritising the acuity and formulating a plan for the care required for the patient.Proper categorisation of patients must be done for acuity.Remember first impression is always right.Aim should be to give high priority of high acuity patients.