Background: Violence towards healthcare workers represents a critical threat to safe and effective care delivery. United States Bureau of Labor statistics demonstrate disproportionately higher rates of violence towards healthcare staff than workers in other industries, with healthcare accounting for 73 percent of all nonfatal workplace injuries and illnesses due to violence in 2018 (1). The [...]

Background: Nearly one-third of laboratory tests in hospitalized patients and up to 60% of routine, repeat lab tests are unnecessary. Unnecessary testing results in excess venipuncture, iatrogenic anemia, patient discomfort, excess costs, wasted lab resources, and a potential cascade of additional tests and interventions. Few academic medical centers, including our institution, have systematic lab stewardship [...]

Background: Vanderbilt University Hospital continues to experience a capacity crisis, leading to a focus on strategies to improve patient flow and length of stay. Other institutions have demonstrated improved throughput by geographically cohorting patients and their respective care teams. Purpose: To reduce hospital length of stay and increase early discharges through the implementation of a [...]

Background: Insurance companies are issuing more denials and causing financial instability for hospitals. On average, hospitals are paid $6,000 less for a patient in outpatient observation status as compared to inpatient status. According to Kaiser Family Foundation Health, the average expense in 2022 for a hospital per inpatient day was $3,025 and is only increasing. [...]