Revolutionzing Patient Selection for KTPH Home with ED Protocolised Referral System
Care Process & Redesign
Yishun Health One Improvement Festival
National Healthcare Group
2 April 2025
The aim of this project is to evaluate how a structured referral system implemented in Emergency Department (ED) revealed. The success of this model has been further enabled by strong management and an increased manpower at KTPH@Home.
Year Submitted: 2025
Published Date: 02 April 2025
Tags: Care Process ＆ Redesign, Quality Improvement, Workflow Redesign, Value Based Care, Patient Satisfaction, Productivity, Cost Saving, Access To Care, Referral Rate, Bed Occupancy Rate
About this Content
Aims
The aim of this project is to evaluate how a structured referral system implemented in Emergency Department (ED) revealed improvements in referral numbers to KTPH@Home, referral accuracy and reducing rejection rates by KTPH@Home clinicians.
Background
Studies of similar models overseas have demonstrated that Mobile Inpatient Care at Home (MIC@Home) model has emerged as an effective alternative to inpatient care, particularly for managing certain acute medical conditions at home and reduce hospitalization cost and improve patient care.
Methods
A protocolized referral pathway was built into ED admission workflow, making KTPH@Home the default first option when an admission decision is made. The incorporation of Best Practice Advisories (BPA) logic in EPIC alerts ED clinicians when a patient meets the pre-defined eligibility criteria.
Results
241% increase in ED referrals to KTPH@Home, 96% increase in ED admission to KTPH@Home, 26% improvement in referral accuracy and reduction in rejection rate by KTPH@Home care team, 5% decrease in patients U-turn rate through appropriate patient selection.
Conclusion
The success of this model has been further enabled by strong management and an increased manpower at KTPH@Home. This combination of factors has facilitated effective intervention, resulting in a successful recruitment model that benefits patients.
Lessons Learnt
The protocolised referral system has demonstrated appropriate patient selection and contributed to the increase in KTPH@Home enrolment, program efficiency and enhance patient safety.
Additional Information
The One Improvement Festival 2025 (Category B - Service Redesign & Delivery) – Top 15 Finalists
Keywords
Referral, KTPH@Home, Patient Care, Protocol, ED Admission
Innovators' Details
Innovators' Details
Healthcare Cluster(s) | National Healthcare Group |
Organization(s) Involved | Khoo Teck Puat Hospital |
Platform(s) | Yishun Health One Improvement Festival |
Healthcare Professional Group(s) | Healthcare Administration, Nursing |
Applicable Specialty or Discipline | Healthcare Administrators, Emergency Medicine |
Project Lead(s) | Chong Y.T., Kumar R.K.N. |
Project Member(s) | Kanak Naidu |
Connect with this contributor!
KTPH & YCH Innovation & Improvement (I&I) Office - i-i@ktph.com.sg
Project Attachment
740_KTPH_OIF_2025_Revolutionzing_patient_selection_for_KTPH_Home_with_ED.pdf