Rapid Evaluation Unit (REU):
An Effective Method to Improve ED Performance
The only way to increase the ED’s ability to overcome the bi-modal volume contribution
to ED Crowding is to dramatically increase the capacity of the ED. There are many rapid change methodologies
that are being implemented in EDs in an attempt to increase ED capacity and throughput:
Limited Solutions
- Immediate bedding
- Bedside triage
- Bedside registration
- Stretcher Turnover Strategies
- Strategies to decrease "boarders"
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More Comprehensive Solutions
- Physician in Triage
- Physician Directed Queuing
- Rapid Evaluation Unit (REU/RAU/RTU)
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The limited solutions are still being used to improve ED throughput but are really just
incremental steps in a broader process improvement program. The more comprehensive solutions have capitalized
on the good ideas contained in the limited solutions, and implemented them in a sequence that allows a number
of bottlenecks to be released so that it is possible to see an improvement of patient flow.
The Conventional ED Process
This model keeps the Triage and Registration processes out in the front of the ED and buffers the patient
from the main ED and delays them from getting to a bed and a provider. |
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