Patient throughput defines the flow of patients from one phase of care to the next, admission through discharge, and then back to home or the next best transition of care. Throughput success is measured by how efficiently and effectively patients are able to gain access to, and receive the care needed, as they move across the system. In short, it is purposeful velocity that define patient throughput performance.

Velocity is increased by optimizing the sequence of patient care activities called value streams. When waste such as delays, errors, and inefficient transportation are eliminated from these operations what remains is the ability to provide more value in less time. Creating unobstructed patient flow in these value streams is key to improving patient throughput velocity.

Patient throughput also drives health system capacity and is the key determinant of productivity. Providers and staff are much more productive as patient throughput efficiency increases, thereby improving their job satisfaction.

As the demand for health care continues to rise associated with changing demographics and increasing patient acuity, health systems struggle more than ever with capacity constraints, insufficient productivity, and increasing financial deficits – exacerbated by the persistent staffing gaps since the pandemic.

The necessity to improve patient throughput has continued to intensify as healthcare budgets stagnate and decline.

The imperative then is for health systems is improve their patient throughput in order to accommodate patient demand, reduce inefficiency and waste in their processes, expand capacity, and improve patient care and satisfaction.

The barriers to optimal patient throughput however are many including long lead times, inefficient capacity coordination, and siloed processes. Contributions to these barriers include inadequate staffing, inconsistent standards, insufficient operational planning, and limited data insights.