Seven Maryland hospitals have improved patient care, efficiency, staff satisfaction, and revenue by importing a pilot program from Britain’s National Health Service, according to New Ways of Working: Improving Workflow on Patient Care Units, a report issued jointly by the American Hospital Association and the Maryland Hospital Association. The NHS initiative uses workforce changes, particularly in job or role redesign, to improve patient services. The objectives of the pilot were to assess the applicability of the NHS model in the U.S. healthcare system and evaluate whether it could help U.S. hospitals develop more effective ways of working. The pilot was a joint project of the AHA and the MHA.
Case studies document results that each of the seven hospitals was able to achieve, including shorter times to admission, shorter lengths of stay, fewer operating room cancellations, increased surgical cases and diagnostic procedures, and more effective interdisciplinary teamwork.
