For the first time, Logan Hospital has introduced new patient flow nurses to its Emergency Department, helping patients get seen quicker and return home sooner.
The new initiative by Metro South Health, sees the introduction of three new roles being dedicated to patient flow within Logan’s Emergency Department in a bid to move patients out of the waiting room and receive the care they need quicker.
Service Line Director Emergency and Clinical Support, Jane McLean said the changes were part of the hospital’s commitment to improving patient flow and care.
“We recently introduced Metro South Health’s first ever Flow Initiative Nurse (FIN) which means our ED now has roles dedicated to patient flow: the CNC Eagle, the FIN and the Croc, or Medical Commander,” she said.
“The Medical Commander is a senior ED clinician who helps coordinate the patient’s journey from the moment they arrive at hospital, through to being admitted to a ward or going home.”
“The Flow Nurse also helps keep things moving by getting patients out of the waiting room and into beds, supporting quick handovers, helping organise discharges and transfers and supporting ambulance crews.”
Ms McLean said the roles come hand in hand.
“Together, they make sure patients are seen, treated, and moved to the right place as quickly and safely as possible, shaping a more responsive, efficient, and patient-centred Emergency Department for the Logan community,” she said.
She said the new FINs have already made a tangible difference in how quickly patients move through the department.
Photo: Emily Hinton, a new FIN nurse at Logan Hospital
