Altamonte Springs, Fla.-based AdventHealth has decreased wait times and left before being seen rates by implementing "vertical bays" in some of its emergency departments.
AdventHealth Carrollwood in Tampa, Fla., first implemented a vertical bay program in 2022. The hospital uses the vertical bays — which are small, private spaces that can fit one patient and a family member — for patients who don't require an ED bed or are waiting for test or lab results, according to a Dec. 18 news release. This helps free up ED beds and rooms for sicker patients, streamlining ED throughput.
Before implementing the program, about 11% of patients left AdventHealth Carrollwood before being seen due to long wait times. Today, this figure sits at less than 1%. The program has since expanded to several other hospitals, including AdventHeatlh Lake Wales (Fla.) and AdventHealth Tampa.
"We are committed to reconceiving and evolving how we offer emergency care to meet the ever-changing needs of our patients," said AdventHealth Lake Wales President and CEO Royce Brown. "The vertical bay program represents a paradigm shift in emergency department management, enabling us to prioritize patient well-being while maximizing operational efficiency."