'Boarded' patients prefer halls on inpatient floors

Abstract

If you can board patients upstairs rather than in your ED, not only will you free space in your department, but you will be giving patients what they want, based on the results of a recent study. Because this change involves other units, buy-in must be obtained from administration. You can make a case with administration based not only on improved safety and care, but also on patient satisfaction. Initial costs for boarding patients in inpatient halls will be higher because additional staff will be needed, but these can be offset by reducing the number of patients who leave without being seen. Spreading care over several units will relieve the pressure on ED nurses.