Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi, UAE

Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi’s ED reduced the length of stay for admitted patients by implementing a structured admission escalation process, clear time-based expectations and strong leadership oversight. Bed coordination begins within five minutes of the admission order, with escalation at defined intervals if bed assignment or nurse-to-nurse handover is delayed. Daily automated reports track admission timelines, compliance, and breaches, enabling leadership to identify trends and address barriers. ED nurses document delays in the EMR, providing actionable frontline data. Just-in-time coaching and interdepartmental escalation support accountability. These actions achieved 93.4 percent compliance with transfer-within-60-minutes and eliminate the need for ED boarding.

The ED focused on improving patient satisfaction by strengthening communication about delays for patients and families. Frequent, transparent updates help reduce anxiety, build trust and improve experience in high-acuity environments. Tawasol patient whiteboards (tawasol is an Arabic word for “means of access”) were used consistently to share care plans, anticipated delays and updates throughout each patient’s stay. Regular audits monitored compliance, accuracy and consistency, while a recognition program acknowledged high-performing caregivers and promoted accountability.

Bedside handover supported continuity between shifts, and purposeful nurse rounding provided proactive updates, addressed concerns and managed expectations. Outcomes have shown sustained improvement, demonstrating the positive impact of structured communication in the ED.