New initiatives introduced across Logan Hospital’s Emergency Department are helping patients receive care faster and return home sooner.
The introduction of new roles, new services, and improvements to the physical environment have made a tangible difference to how quickly patients move through the department.
Service Line Director Emergency and Clinical Support, Jane McLean said the changes were part of the hospital’s commitment to improving patient flow.
“Patient flow means how smoothly people move through a hospital, clinic or department, like the ED,” Jane explained. “We recently introduced Metro South Health’s first ever Flow Initiative Nurse (FIN) which means our ED now has three roles dedicated to patient flow: the CNC Eagle, the FIN and the Croc, or Medical Commander.
“The Medical Commander is a senior ED clinician who helps coordinate the patient's journey from the moment they arrive at hospital, through to being admitted to a ward or going home.
“The Flow Nurse also helps keep things moving by getting patients out of the waiting room and into beds, supporting quick handovers, helping organise discharges and transfers, directing ambulance crews to the right area, and arranging transport when needed.
“Together, they make sure patients are seen, treated, and moved to the right place as quickly and safely as possible.”
Earlier this year the hospital also launched its award-winning Women’s Hub — a purpose-built space and model of care designed specifically for women presenting with sensitive or intimate health concerns.
ADON Emergency Department and CCS Linda Perry said the ED Women’s Health Hub Team had demonstrated extraordinary commitment and innovation in transforming emergency care for women.
The women’s hub is one of several redesigned spaces in the ED that are improving patient experiences.
Another is Queensland’s first dedicated Geriatric Emergency Medicine Unit, which supports the growing number of older patients presenting to Logan’s ED.
The unit, created by repurposing existing acute spaces, has already reported outstanding results, including reduced bed allocation times and faster access to clinicians.
“Together, these innovations are shaping a more responsive, efficient, and patient-centred Emergency Department for the Logan community,” Jane said.