We recently conducted a quality project using Six Sigma techniques that our residents learned as part of their program to improve their ED. The goal was to decrease the time patients wait in ER rooms after their physician had discharged them, due to patients waiting on their discharge paperwork. The project was based on an idea to have resident physicians discharge select patients, particularly patients that residents were already going back into the room to discuss results, prescriptions, return precautions, and follow up plans. The logic was: why not just have patients sign their discharge papers when we are in the room discussing all the items of their discharge packet?

The results of this project showed that, by using this new discharge process in only 22.6% of all ED patients, an additional 177 patients could be accommodated into ED rooms rather than being treated from the waiting room. It also could generate an estimated $442,500 in additional revenue for the hospital if continued throughout the year.

This project won first place at Orange Park Medical Centers Research Day and was presented by Cody Russell, MD, PGY-1 and led by Steven Warrington, MD. ■