Grady Health System Emergency Department
Atlanta, Georgia
Grady Health System Emergency Department
The team at the Grady Health System emergency department credits two initiatives for transforming the level of care it provides, particularly in enhancing patient flow and reducing delays.
In response to soaring patient volumes—from 138,680 visits in 2021 to more than 154,000 in 2024—the department launched the “traffic control nurse” role. This pivotal position, designed to enhance patient flow, reduce delays and improve staff coordination and collaboration, has made a significant impact. The left-without-being-seen rate plummeted from 7 percent to 2 percent, and average discharge times improved significantly for the 72-bed department.
The second significant advancement is the STAT IR program, created to address emergent hemorrhage control for trauma patients. This initiative drastically reduced interventional radiology response times through dedicated staffing, hybrid operating room optimization and seamless interdisciplinary teamwork. These efforts have saved lives and set a new benchmark in trauma care, a testament to the ED’s commitment to excellence and innovation.
In response to soaring patient volumes—from 138,680 visits in 2021 to more than 154,000 in 2024—the department launched the “traffic control nurse” role. This pivotal position, designed to enhance patient flow, reduce delays and improve staff coordination and collaboration, has made a significant impact. The left-without-being-seen rate plummeted from 7 percent to 2 percent, and average discharge times improved significantly for the 72-bed department.
The second significant advancement is the STAT IR program, created to address emergent hemorrhage control for trauma patients. This initiative drastically reduced interventional radiology response times through dedicated staffing, hybrid operating room optimization and seamless interdisciplinary teamwork. These efforts have saved lives and set a new benchmark in trauma care, a testament to the ED’s commitment to excellence and innovation.