The Healthcare Team at University Hospital and Medical Center, in Tamarac recognized there was a need for an operational change in the Hospital that reflected the true purpose to their community service! As a result the team at University Hospital and Medical Center implemented a direct admit program to assist physicians with a fast track process to quickly provide care for their patients and community.
The “One Call Program” was implemented for physicians in response to the need for a streamlined admissions process; also known as One Number, One Call, One Answer, Always yes!
(l-r) Tara DeWaal, Viridia Calderon, and Vanessa Anderson, registered nurses in the Observation Unit.
Upon the patients arrival at the Emergency Department or Outpatient entrance, they are greeted by name and placed in a wheelchair with the ID band placed on the patients wrist. The patient is then delivered to their pre-assigned room where they are greeted by their assigned nurse. The patient is then registered at bed side which allows the physicians orders be carried out immediately. This process allows the patient to experience an expedited admission eliminating the overwhelming feeling of going to a vast system of unknowns.
Additionally, a similar process was created in the Imaging Department to allow physicians to call one number 24 hours a day to schedule their procedures with a person versus a standard answering message and accept patient walk-ins for the same day.
The team at University Hospital and Medical Center clearly recognized the need for an organizational shift, and these changes have now resulted in a patient centered program that has created very satisfied patients and physicians.
