Inova Fair Oaks Hospital Emergency Department

Fairfax, Virginia

Amid growing patient volumes, the Inova Fair Oaks Hospital Emergency Department committed to improving patient flow, reducing wait times and enhancing the patient experience. The department introduced a vertical triage model during peak hours, deployed a provider-in-triage and developed an LPN-APP care model to efficiently manage lower-acuity patients in designated care areas. Additional improvements included optimizing the fast-track triage space, using real-time operational data to drive staffing and workflow decisions and expanding nursing and provider resources to support demand. Through continuous process improvement, interdisciplinary collaboration and shared accountability, the department improved throughput, reduced delays and length of stay and maintained safe, efficient, patient-centered care.

The 33-bed department also made changes to improve patient safety during transport and handoff after identifying recurring oxygen depletion events. An interdisciplinary review revealed opportunities to improve oxygen tank management, Ticket to Ride documentation and handoff communication. In response, the department launched the Oxygen Pause campaign, which included hands-on staff education, competency validation and teach-back training to reinforce safe oxygen practices. The team also introduced redesigned oxygen tanks and standardized transport workflows. The combined interventions strengthened accountability, communication and process reliability, leading to a sustained elimination of oxygen depletion events and safer patient care transitions.