Understanding and Overcoming Barriers to Admissions and Timely Discharges in a Cancer Hospital: A Case Study of National Centre for Cancer Care and Research, Doha, Qatar
Zyad Abu Issa1
Saad S. Eziada1
Afraa Fadul1
Anil Yousaf Elahi1
Aladdin I. M. Kanbour1
Al- Hareth M. Al -Khater1
Priyadarsini Asmita Vatsyayan1
Radwa Maher Mahmoud1
Emelita Jose Ison1
Majed Jamal Saad Haddad1
Samer Mustafa Salehaladwan1
Anu Varghese1
Cristopher Gonzales Silva1
Afsheen Raza2
Sosamma Ninan1
Mohammad Ben Ali Romdhane1
Ahmad Khalid Ismail Aljabri1
Molley James1
Naser Abdelmajeed Hussein Zghool1
Fenil Jose1
Nima Ahmed Ali1
Andrew James Fraser1
Salha Bujassoum1
Mohammed Salem Jaber Alhassan1
Nayel Abdulla Al Tawreneh1
Authors Info & Affiliations
Abstract
Background
Improving access to healthcare is crucial for patient experience, clinical safety, timeliness of care, and reducing staff pressure. The National Centre for Cancer Care and Research (NCCCR), the primary cancer center in Qatar, confronted challenges in delivering quality cancer care and services.
Aim
This project aimed to identify factors limiting patient admissions and discharges at NCCCR to improve the average patient admission and discharge rates by 50%.
Methods
The study was conducted at the National Center for Cancer Care and Research (NCCCR) in Qatar from June 2020 to December 2021. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the average number of inpatient admissions, discharges, and patient length of stay. The Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) Model for Improvement tool was utilized to test changes at the facility level.
Results
A comparison of baseline data in Quarter 2 (Q2) 2020 with Quarter 4 (Q4) 2021 showed a 37% increase in the average number of inpatient admissions and a 62% increase in inpatient discharges. The number of patients staying 0-10 days increased by 39% from Q2 2020 to Q4 2021.
Conclusion
This project identified several factors affecting patient admission and discharge services. Implementation of strategies such as establishing a physician-led discharge multidisciplinary committee, conducting frequent bed status evaluations by case managers and physicians, and expanding bed capacity led to significant improvements in the admission and discharge process.
