Slash wait times, maximize resources with novel ED protocol.

When a sudden increase in volume overwhelmed Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans, LA, in the wake of hurricane Katrina, ED administrators created QTrack, a new ED protocol that effectively doubled the capacity of the ED by taking full advantage of waiting-room space while preserving beds for only the sickest patients.The approach requires firm policies and procedures and continual provider reinforcement, but the results are dramatic. Patient satisfaction has risen from the 20th to above the 90th percentile. Average door-to-doc times have been slashed from hours to about 33 minutes. The LWBS rate is below 1% at facilities where QTrack has been implemented.