Reducing % of Inappropriate Referrals for Emergency Department-Jurong Community Hospital Transfers
Care Process & Redesign
National University Health System Quality Improvement
National University Health System
31 December 2021
Reduce inappropriate ED-to-JCH referrals to below 20% by June 2021. Redesigning the referral process reduced inefficiencies and improved care transitions between ED and JCH.
Year Submitted: 2021
Published Date: 31 December 2021
Tags: Care Process ＆ Redesign, Access To Care, Referral Rate
About this Content
Aims
Reduce inappropriate ED-to-JCH referrals to below 20% by June 2021.
Background
Inappropriate ED-JCH transfers peaked at 41%, resulting in inefficient resource allocation and delayed care.
Methods
Appointed ED case managers, introduced screening tools, conducted staff training, and refined referral workflows.
Results
Inappropriate referrals reduced to 13%; monthly referrals stabilized with no unplanned transfers.
Conclusion
Redesigning the referral process reduced inefficiencies and improved care transitions between ED and JCH.
Lessons Learnt
Case managers, training, and clear referral criteria are essential for workflow improvements.
Keywords
ED-JCH Transfers, Referral Screening, Workflow Redesign, Case Managers, Resource Utilization
Innovators' Details
Innovators' Details
Healthcare Cluster(s) | National University Health System |
Organization(s) Involved | Ng Teng Fong General Hospital, Jurong Community Hospital |
Platform(s) | National University Health System Quality Improvement |
Healthcare Professional Group(s) | Healthcare Administration, Nursing, Medical |
Applicable Specialty or Discipline | Emergency Medicine |
Project Lead(s) | Colin Ong |
Project Member(s) | Alvin Ong |
Connect with this contributor!
Dr Colin Ong - colin_ong@nuhs.edu.sg
Project Attachment
C_217_NTFGH_JCH_QM_2021_Reducing_inappropriate_referrals_for_ED_JCH_transfers_LS_290722docx.pdf