FAST Process Make a Big Impact at Palmdale Regional Medical Center

Fast Process Leads to Significant Improvements in Operational Performance and Patient Satisfaction

Palmdale Regional Medical Center, formerly known as Lancaster Community Hospital
Palmdale, California
Annual ED Visits: 22,000

The Challenge
Prior to moving into a new state-of-the-art medical facility, Palmdale Regional Medical Center, formerly Lancaster Community Hospital, was challenged with rising emergency department patient volumes. When long waits began to impact patient satisfaction, the EmCare team went to work developing meaningful solutions.

The Solution
To address the logistical challenges affecting the emergency department, the EmCare team developed and implemented comprehensive programs to improve performance in the following key areas:

• Operational Performance: The Fast Assessment and Super Treatment (FAST) process was instituted utilizing a mid-level provider in triage, accelerating admissions and EMS door-to-bed times.
• Patient Satisfaction: Pain management strategies were enhanced and physicians and nurse leaders began rounding.
• Quality of Care: An advanced notification process was implemented for cath lab patients in-route to the hospital and blood culture criteria were modified to include ICU and septic patients.
• Recruitment: A new recruiting and mentoring program placed eight physicians and –five mid-level providers within a year.