Emergency Department Buisness Planning
Emergency Department Buisness Planning
Emergency Department Buisness Planning
Business Planning
Framework:
a tool for nursing and midwifery
workload management
5th Edition 2016
Disclaimer:
The content presented in this publication is distributed
by the Queensland Government as an information source
only. The State of Queensland makes no statements,
representations or warranties about the accuracy,
completeness or reliability of any information contained
in this publication. The State of Queensland disclaims all
responsibility and all liability (including without limitation
for liability in negligence) for all expenses, losses, damages
and costs you might incur as a result of the information
being inaccurate or incomplete in any way, and for any
reason reliance was placed on such information.
Contents
Introduction........................................................................................................ 2
References........................................................................................................ 26
Appendix 1: Example activity measures identified for emergency departments............ 28
There are a number of common nursing workload Factors that should be considered when
management and workforce planning issues contextualising the BPF 5th Edition to emergency
within emergency departments. These are departments include consideration of:
recognised as critical areas of concern.
• the amount of activity/number of
The most frequently discussed issues involve:
presentations the department delivers
• articulating nursing work in the
• the Clinical Services Capability Framework
emergency department,
(CSCF) Emergency Services level
• validating indirect emergency nursing
• distance to higher CSCF Emergency Services
hours and;
(i.e. tertiary centres, retrieval services)
• applying standard business planning if relevant
definitions to emergency department settings
• proximity of public transport (e.g. if
Emergency departments are the front door of the accessibility of emergency department is
health facility and, for many people, form their more convenient than access to a General
primary contact with the health care system, Practitioner clinic)
providing an important interface between the • the population and demographic of patients
community and the health facility.1,2
»» consideration of remote, rural, regional,
Emergency services are responsible for
or metropolitan facility
the reception, triage, initial assessment,
stabilisation, management of patients of all age »» socioeconomic status of population
1 www.acem.org.au/Standards-Publications/Policies-Guidelines.aspx
2 https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0027/444276/cscf-emergency.pdf
3 www.acem.org.au/Standards-Publications/Policies-Guidelines.aspx
4 http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf Content/387970CE723E2BD8CA257BF0001DC49F/$File/Triage%20Workbook.pdf
5 https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0027/444276/cscf-emergency.pdf
6 https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0027/444276/cscf-emergency.pdf
7
https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0030/365448/qh-gdl-956.pdf
8
https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0024/443265/occupational-violence-may2016.pdf
The BPF 5th Edition outlines the general of each factor on their environment and make
factors a service should consider when the necessary adjustments to the allocation
analysing the internal and external of nursing hours.
environment as part of developing their
Table 1 provides examples of several
service profile. However, there are a variety
business planning considerations relevant
of business planning factors which influence
to the emergency department, based on
the emergency department and result in
recognised internal and external influences.
service demand fluctuations. These internal
Consideration of the impact and level of
and external factors need to be considered
influence these have on nursing and midwifery
when analysing service demand. Wards and
workloads to support the productive hours
services should annually assess the impact
is required.
Locality of service The locality, type and catchment area of a Direct nursing and midwifery hours :
service will influence the balance of service
(Internal) Calculation of clinical hours for direct
demand and supply.
care, allocation of clinical hours
(Metropolitan, regional, rural
Examples: (rosters), selection of service activity/
and remote)
acuity measures, use of minimum safe
The higher CSCF level sites are the referral
staffing requirements.
sites for lower CSCF level emergency
departments, it must consider this activity
Type of Service as part of service demand e.g. inter-hospital Indirect nursing and midwifery hours:
transfers, burns, spinal, neuro surgery,
(Internal) Calculation of clinical hours for indirect
paediatrics, ICU.
care, travel, program/service based
(e.g. Emergency care, resus,
Any emergency department of CSCF level 4 education, succession planning, quality
Nurse Practitioner lead model,
and above become referral site for feeder activities and research.
fast track, short stay unit,
hospitals. This leads to workload impact of
mental health acute care team,
transfers, inter-hospital transfers,
diagnostics)
and direct admissions.
Catchment area All services need to consider the impact of Workforce planning:
skill mix on optimal service delivery.
(Internal) Development of strategic local/
Statewide workforce plans to inform Full
(Local Hospital and
Time Equivalent (FTE) requirements,
Health Services versus
skill mix profiles and macro workforce
Statewide Services)
planning formulas.
Nursing and midwifery The model of care selected for a service will Direct nursing hours:
structure influence the nursing and support structures
Calculation of clinical hours for direct
required. Nursing and midwifery roles, and
(Internal) care provided in and outside the service,
how they relate with other clinical roles, will
position classifications for the clinical
(Roles, functions, impact on the balance of service demand
hours required, allocation of clinical
accountabilities and and supply.
hours (rosters), selection of optimal
relationships between all
Examples: service activity/acuity measures,
categories of nursing staff )
safe staffing levels.
In emergency, nursing roles can be
categorised by the skills required to
Support structure meet patient demand (i.e. orthopaedic, Indirect nursing hours:
correctional, mental health, endocrine, renal,
(Internal) Calculation of clinical hours for non-direct
paediatrics, geriatric). To accommodate
care networking/collaboration (internal
(Providing support to other the wide range of skills required, a level of
and external) travel, staff training,
services and/or receiving flexibility in the scope of the role is necessary
professional development, quality
support from other services) which can impact on the number of nursing
activities and research.
staff employed and their workloads.
Policy/legal factors Changes in health policy and legislation Direct nursing hours:
will influence service delivery and staff
(External) Calculation of clinical hours for direct care
requirements. Common change drivers
(based on available funding), position
include governments (commonwealth/state),
classifications for the clinical hours
licensing organisations, professional and
required, registration commitments for
industrial groups.
clinical hours, allocation of clinical hours
Examples: (rosters), selection of optimal service
activity/acuity measures, and use of
Legislation – Work Health and Safety Act 2011
minimum staffing requirements.
Commonwealth - health reform
Queensland Health – strategic plan
Occupational violence – task force
recommendations
Mental Health Act and Public Health
Act resulting in changes in service
delivery requirements.
Economic factors Funding policies, the national economy and Indirect nursing hours:
the interface between public and private
(External) Calculation of hours for indirect and
health care providers will influence the
non-productive activities such as policy
delivery of outpatients and ambulatory
development, business planning,
health services and the number of
service interfaces, travel, staff training,
staff required.
professional development, quality
Examples: activities and research.
Service improvement initiatives can provide
non-recurrent funding increases for services
which achieve the targeted results. These
incentives could impact the skill and number
of nurses required for service delivery.
This builds community expectation for
service delivery not aligned to recurrent
funding model.
9
https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0024/443265/occupational-violence-may2016.pdf y
10
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40886-016-0049-y
11
https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0024/443265/occupational-violence-may2016.pdf
• primary health care providers including local • policy, procedure and clinical guideline
General Practitioner practices development and review, at facility and
HHS level
• Hospital in The Home (HiTH) services
• clinical portfolio extension beyond
• Community Advisory Networks
department, providing specialist emergency
• specialised statewide services such as nursing advice throughout the hospital and
Retrieval Services Queensland (RSQ), health service
transplant services
• incident and near miss reporting in the
• private sector service providers emergency setting. This involves identification
and management of challenging patient and
The time staff commit to these activities needs to
family behaviours
be considered when calculating the productive
nursing hours for the service. Both quantitative • ergonomics and design requirements
and qualitative information regarding community to ensure a safe environment e.g. safe
interface activities needs to be considered. environments for mental health patients,
safe environment for triage nurse
12
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17365896
Health policy, clinical guidelines, • Mental Health Act 2016 16
strategic plan and health legislation • National Safety and Quality Health Service
(NSQHS) Standards17
There are a number of legislative and policy
requirements that influence the emergency • Memorandum of Understanding – Queensland
department setting. These should be Health and Queensland Police Service Mental
considered when developing service profile, Health Collaboration 2016 18
resource allocation and evaluation of • Use of Retrieval Services Queensland – Health
performance. Key examples listed below: Service Directive19
• Occupational Violence Prevention in • Queensland State Disaster Management
Queensland Health’s Hospital and Plan 2016 20
Health Services13
• Chronic Conditions Manual 21
• Implementation plan for the National
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health • Service improvements and delivery models –
Plan 2013 – 2023 14 Care in the emergency department 22
• Hospital and Health Service strategic plans15 • Department of Health Guideline: Emergency
Department Access23
13
https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0024/443265/occupational-violence-may2016.pdf
14
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/AC51639D3C8CD4ECCA257E8B00007AC5/$File/DOH_
ImplementationPlan_v3.pdf
15
https://www.health.qld.gov.au/system-governance/strategic-direction/plans/hhs-plan
16
https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/browse/inforce
17
https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/our-work/national-standards-and-accreditation/
18
https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0034/573991/mou_qh_qps_mhcollab.pdf
19
https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/151193/qh-hsd-005.pdf
20
http://www.disaster.qld.gov.au/Disaster-Resources/Documents/Queensland-State-Disaster-Management-Plan-2016.pdf
21
https://publications.qld.gov.au/dataset/ef6d9f9e-e8aa-445e-a345-02a016e7251b/resource/bbe5439c-be87-45b6-b704-
3b557fbee1e0/download/chronicconditionsmanual1stedition.pdf
22
https://www.health.qld.gov.au/improvement/improving-services/service-models
23
https://www.health.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0030/365448/qh-gdl-956.pdf
Productive Non-
Activity Examples
Productive
Direct Indirect
Service management
Service delivery
Consumer liaison/patient x x Public phone calls, answering calls, directing phone calls,
follow-ups patient enquiries
Productive Non-
Activity Examples
Productive
Direct Indirect
Transfer management Management of ramped patients, collating information
(pre and post emergency x x to do transfer, conflict resolution, QAS liaison and
department care) shared care
Staff management
Mandatory training x Localised to each HHS, e.g. ergonomics, basic life support
Productive Non-
Activity Examples
Productive
Direct Indirect
Policy development and enforcement
Information management
Other
Equipment and
x Building repairs, clinical equipment repairs, HTER
infrastructure
management, general asset management
maintenance
Please note: Education and training programs provided within the clinical service/program/facility are considered indirect hours.
Clinical hours associated with mandatory training and professional development leave for education purposes is allocated within
non- productive hours.
• Did-not-wait presentations
»» When a patient presents to the emergency
department, they are seen by the triaging
nurse and assessed. They may also be
reviewed in the waiting room by a nurse,
such as a CIN. If this patient chooses not to
wait for treatment, this presentation does
not attract any activity based funding, even
though a nurse spent time with, and has
triaged and assessed that patient.
• Transfer activity
»» Some lower-level CSCF emergency services
are required to provide higher level services
until transfer of patients can occur (e.g.
invasive ventilation for an extended period
until RFDS transfer can be arranged). This
has impacts on staffing requirements.
»» If there is no bed availability for a patient
to transfer (either intra-hospital or inter-
hospital), this increases the demand
on nursing hours in the emergency
department, whilst also limiting availability
of rooms to treat waiting emergency
patients which impacts on patient flow.
Emergency Department Information EDIS was designed based on clinical input and follows the Activity
System (EDIS) progression of a patient through the ED. The system is able Acuity
to monitor patient progress and provide alerts, and record Client outcomes
treatment details. Data collection is a key component of
this program.
Queensland Hospital Admitted The QHAPDC is the morbidity collection for all patients Activity
Patient Data Collection (QHAPDC) who have been admitted and separated from a hospital in Client complexity
Queensland. The information collected is used to manage, Client trends
plan. Research and fund facilities at a local state and
Performance
national level.
Client outcomes
Funding
Enterprise Discharge The EDS application uses information from a number Client trends
Summary (EDS) of existing Queensland Health specialist systems Client complexity
to create a legible, consistent, electronic discharge Client outcomes
summary. It allows the summary to be delivered
Performance
electronically to general practices in a secure, timely and
standardised format.
Monthly Activity Collection (MAC) Collects aggregate (or summary level) data on ‘admitted’ Activity
and ‘non-admitted’ patient activity from public acute Provider type
Note: MAC reporting to become
hospital facilities, public residential psychiatric hospitals Client type
obsolete in 2018/19
and public nursing homes/hostels/independent living
Service type
units and multipurpose health services each month. Data
is routinely reported on Queensland Health’s internet and Performance
internet sites. Financial reporting
Consumer Integrated Mental Health Supports mental health's strategic, reporting and Client information
Application (CIMHA) functional requirements through a single statewide reporting
data base.
Queensland Health Enterprise Online application through which Queensland Health Reporting
Reporting Service (QHERS) employees can access a number of custom made statistical
reports. QHERS provides users the ability to view, print
and save reports designed to increase the capability and
effectiveness of management reporting.
Management Information This application is an end to end management system Patient flow
System - Emergency Department of emergency care including, not only details of current Shift planning
Flow Monitor patients in the emergency department (ED) and patients Short-term activity
expected to arrive in the coming hours but, more projection
importantly, the current actions required to improve
patient flow, patient treatment times and specific KPIs
every 5 minutes. This application also provides in-depth,
interactive reporting recent shifts and the last 10 days in
the Emergency Department.
Pyxis® MedStation ES Advanced system that automates the distribution, Medication management
management and control of medications. The system
includes a network of secure storage units located in
patient care areas such as emergency departments
Decision Support System Provides summary data reports displaying aggregate Workforce
(DSS Panorama) expenditure, budgets, variances and balances for cost Expenditure
centres and account codes for services. Reports are Performance
available for agency use, overtime, leave/ absenteeism,
position occupancy and work centres.
WorkBrain / myHR myHR is a new application that provides real-time access Workforce information
to establishment and employee information located within
SAP HR, providing users with enhanced capability to
manage their workforce.
Patient Flow Manager / The Electronic Patient Journey Board (EPJB) displays Patient occupancy
Journey Boards patient information for clinical staff and allows patient dashboard
information to be entered and updated throughout the care Patient flow planning
delivery process, from admission to discharge. EPJB are
highly visible and promote a multidisciplinary approach to
patient care and discharge planning. Often coloured flags
are utilised in the form of a ‘traffic light system’ to indicate
whether a referral or patient requirement is complete
or incomplete.
McKesson Capacity Planner An on line tool used to forecast patient demand and align Workload allocation
staffing resources Capacity management
As per the BPF 5th Edition, when a balanced Examples of workforce specific
scorecard is available, it assists in identifying quality indicators in the emergency
service objectives, selecting appropriate department include:
performance measurements and monitoring
• vacancy rate
the progress of those objectives. The balanced
scorecard highlights both successful and • staff turnover
unsuccessful performance trends and allows • overtime used
service comparisons to be made internally
• casual/agency hours usage
and externally. If a balanced scorecard is not
available it will be necessary to determine local • workload issues
performance indicators.
• absenteeism
There are a number of nurse-sensitive • mandatory education completion rate
indicators suitable for evaluating the quality
• requisite and/or unit specific education
of emergency department nursing services
completion rate
such as:
• patient satisfaction Measurement of performance should include
quality indicators including results from
• use of evidenced-based clinical practice
accreditation cycles and periodic reviews,
guidelines and tools
further examples can be seen on page 50 of the
• patient education practices BPF 5th Edition.
• median wait time to treatment Key performance indicators should be
• percentage of patients who did not wait chosen based on the individual service, with
for treatment consideration of the consumer, staff, and the
greater organisation.
• number of unplanned re-presentations
• number of in-department falls
• hand hygiene compliance
• medication administration
24
http://qheps.health.qld.gov.au/spr/home.htm
25
http://www.performance.health.qld.gov.au/hospitalperformance/HHS.aspx?id=87
26
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/casemix-ED-triage+Review+Fact+Sheet+Documents
27
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4458479/
• length of time in emergency department • number of i-Stat (point of care blood testing)
(Emergency Length of Stay [ELOS], Queensland occasions of service
Emergency Access Target [QEAT]) • walk-ins versus ambulance presentations
• Patient Off Stretcher Time
This addendum was authored by Queensland Health, • Kylie Badke, Industrial Officer, QNMU
Office of the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer • Tarryn Mullavey, Speciality Practice Lead: Remote
(OCNMO), and Queensland Nurses and Midwives Setting Addendum
Union (QNMU) by:
• Jillian Richardson, Speciality Practice Lead: Rural
• Debbie McCarthy, Speciality Practice Lead: Setting Addendum
Emergency Departments Addendum
• Denise Sticklen, Speciality Practice Lead:
• Sandra Eckstein, Assistant Director of Nursing, Correctional Services Addendum
OCNMO (co-lead)
• Debbie McCarthy, Speciality Practice Lead:
• Tarryn Mullavey, Acting Assistant Director of Nursing, Emergency Departments Addendum
OCNMO (co-lead)
• Colleen Glenn, Speciality Practice Lead: Maternity
• Sharyn Hopkins, Professional Officer, Services Addendum
QNMU (co-lead)
• Desley Horn, Speciality Practice Lead:
Queensland Health would also like to thank its nurses Paediatric Addendum
and midwives for contributing to this project and
delivering excellent standards of evidence-based The BPF Subject Matter Expert Reference Group - Glenn
patient care to the people of Queensland. Hokin, Jane Davies, Jane Walker-Smith, Jeff Dippel,
Jeffrey Souter, Juliet Graham, Linda Zimitat, Lynne
Special acknowledgement is given to members of: Cameron, Michelle Eley, Neil Pratt, Paolo La Penna,
Rachelle Cooke, Rohan Harbert.
The Emergency Department Speciality Users Group –
• Debbie McCarthy, Speciality Practice Lead: The EB9 Executive Directors of Nursing And
Emergency Departments Addendum Midwifery Services -
• Tarryn Mullavey, Nursing Director – Service • Chris Small, EDNM, South West HHS
Planning, North West HHS • Veronica Casey, EDNM, Metro South HHS
• Lesley Laffey, DON Cloncurry, North West HHS • Judy Moreton, EDNM, Townsville HHS
• Allan Rowe, NUM ED, The Prince Charles Hospital, • Alanna Geary, EDNM, Metro North HHS
Metro North HHS
The statewide Executive Directors of Nursing and
• Amanda Smith, NUM Children’s ED, The Prince Midwifery Services.
Charles Hospital, Metro North HHS
Special acknowledgement is given to the
• Amanda Scanlon, Nursing Director and Facility
following contributors:
Manager, Mackay HHS
• Shelley Nowlan, Chief Nursing and
• Graeme Poole, NUM, Atherton Hospital, CHHHS
Midwifery Officer, OCNMO
• Desley Horn, Nurse Manager, LCCH, CHQ
• Diana Schmalkuche, Director of Nursing,
• Melissa Heather, NUM, Ipswich Hospital, West Workforce Sustainability, OCNMO
Moreton HHS
• Rachel Borger, Director, Industrial Relations,
• Juliet Graham, Nursing Director of Workforce, West Employment Arrangements Unit
Moreton HHS
• Renee Muggleton, Project Support Officer,
• Robin Stocks, NM Informatics, Wide Bay HHS Employment Relations
• Muireann Wynne, CNC, Logan Hospital, • Denise Breadsell, Professional Officer, QNMU
Metro South HHS
• Susan Krimmer, Acting Assistant Director of Nursing,
• Julie A Oliver, A/Nursing Director, ED, MHHS OCNMO for her contribution in co- leading and
commencing the project.
30 Emergency Department Addendum