Jefferson Health Cherry Hill Emergency Department
Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Jefferson Health Cherry Hill Emergency Department
Staff at the 25-bed Jefferson Health Cherry Hill emergency department started two initiatives to address key challenges in the ED. First, the
department launched a comprehensive charge nurse training program in collaboration with physician leadership. This eight-hour course strengthened leadership, communication and patient flow strategies through evidence-based practices and hands-on exercises. Improved collaboration with inpatient teams helped address delays in transfers, discharges and diagnostics. Additional patient engagement efforts—including scripted communication, leadership rounding and an ED passport explaining the care process—helped build trust, reducing the rate of patients leaving without being seen to below 2 percent.
Second, the ED redesigned care for behavioral health patients, who comprise 20 percent of visits, by dedicating a behavioral health hallway with six beds and four flexible-use beds. The space is staffed by nurses and a mental health technician. Safety protocols, meal enhancements, structured daily schedules and tools like a sensory bundle and autism health were introduced. These changes reduced restraint use, improved care quality and shifted staff perception, fostering empathy and deeper understanding of behavioral health patient needs. These initiatives improved safety, efficiency and patient-centered care.
department launched a comprehensive charge nurse training program in collaboration with physician leadership. This eight-hour course strengthened leadership, communication and patient flow strategies through evidence-based practices and hands-on exercises. Improved collaboration with inpatient teams helped address delays in transfers, discharges and diagnostics. Additional patient engagement efforts—including scripted communication, leadership rounding and an ED passport explaining the care process—helped build trust, reducing the rate of patients leaving without being seen to below 2 percent.
Second, the ED redesigned care for behavioral health patients, who comprise 20 percent of visits, by dedicating a behavioral health hallway with six beds and four flexible-use beds. The space is staffed by nurses and a mental health technician. Safety protocols, meal enhancements, structured daily schedules and tools like a sensory bundle and autism health were introduced. These changes reduced restraint use, improved care quality and shifted staff perception, fostering empathy and deeper understanding of behavioral health patient needs. These initiatives improved safety, efficiency and patient-centered care.