A Centralized System to Access Acute Healthcare Services: The Pros and Cons

Abstract

Having a centralized access service results in a daily interconnectedness between hospital sites, which can create many benefits but also much controversy. Knowing the pros and cons of a centralized service and understanding the role and work environment of the access coordinator will assist you in deciding if this service would be of benefit to your health region. In this descriptive analysis of a centralized access model, a regional perspective is presented; however many of the strategies can be adapted to a single hospital service resulting in improved flow in clinical areas.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Fraser Health Authority (on-line) 2004. [Accessed June 3, 2004]. Available at: http://www.fraserhealth.ca/Home/default.htm

Cohen

Martorella

. Bed Availability Report: Facilitating patient placement. Journal of Nursing Administration 2000; 30(12): 599–603.

AFT Healthcare. State of the Workforce (on-line) 2003. [Accessed June 1, 2004]. Available at: www.aft.org/healthcare/downloadfiles/aft_almanac03.pdf.

Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation. [Accessed January 16, 2003]. Available at: http://www.cchsa.ca/default.aspx?language=e

Labor Market Information. Air Traffic Controllers. California Occupational Guide Number 230 (on-line) 1998. [Accessed June 3, 2004]. Available at: www.calmis.cahwnet.gov/file/occguide/AIRCONTR.HTM.

Eurocontrol: Professionals to the Core (on-line) 2003. [Accessed June 1, 2004]. Available at: www.eurocontrol.int/focus/controllers/.

Eurocontrol: Managing the Traffic (on-line) 2003. [Accessed June 1, 2004]. Available at: www.eurocontrol.int/activities/managing-traffic/.

Health Canada. Facts about SARS (on-line) 2004. [Accessed June 3, 2004]. Available at: www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/diseases/flu_sars.html.

B.C. Bedline (on-line) 2004. [Accessed March 2004]. Available at: www.bcbedline.ca.

10.

UK National Audit Office Report. Inpatient Admissions and Bed Management in NHS Acute Hospitals (on-line) 2000. [Accessed May 31, 2004]. Available at: http://www.nao.org.uk/publications/nao_reports/9900254es.pdf