Implementation of the Discharge Hospitality Center to Reduce Emergency Department Boarding: A Quality Improvement Project

Emergency department crowding and boarding of admitted patients has become the focus of academic medicine, government, and regulatory agencies. One potential solution, as reported in this quality improvement project, is the implementation of a Discharge Hospitality Center to help smooth admission demands and turn over inpatient rooms sooner to alleviate capacity constraints. Nurse leaders need to continuously evaluate and consider strategies to improve patient flow and operational processes in every facet of the healthcare delivery system. A strong implementation and sustainability plan coupled with data-driven scientific problem-solving methodology and stake-holder input can improve outcomes without significant capital investment.