RESUMO
PROBLEM: Emergency department waiting rooms are high risk, high liability areas for hospitals. Patients who are greeted by non-clinical personnel or who are not being placed in available beds increases wait times and prevent patients from receiving timely treatment and access to care. METHODS: A multidisciplinary team was convened to review best practice literature and develop and implement an immediate bedding process. The process included placing a greeter nurse in the waiting room who performs a quick patient assessment to determine acuity. Based on that acuity, the greeter nurse then places the patient in the appropriate available bed. RESULTS: We established our Bypass Rapid Assessment Triage process and improved door-to-triage, door-to-bed, and door-to-physician times while enhancing patient satisfaction. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: A system should be in place that allows for immediate bedding wherever possible. Transitioning to immediate bedding requires a culture change. Staff engagement is essential to achieving such a culture shift.