The aim of the HSE Patient Flow Academy is to improve patient flow by supporting staff to identify, define and improve processes, pathways and systems for the safe and timely delivery of care. This is driven by a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration and sharing of what works well for sites.
Patient Flow Academy Conference 2024
The theme of this HSE conference in the Gibson Hotel on November 13 is ‘Changing Outcomes, Improving Together.’
Patient Flow Academy Conference 2024
Excellence Awards
The Patient Flow Academy, in collaboration with the Spark Innovation Programme, were delighted to introduce the Patient Flow Academy Excellence Awards.
This initiative seeks to recognise and celebrate projects completed over the last five years which have improved patient flow. This initiative offers awards of up to €5,000.
We were particularly interested in projects related to the following priority areas:
- Integrated Operations
- Demand and Capacity Management/Analysis
- Ward Processes
- Integrated Discharge Processes
- Older Persons and Frailty
- Length of Stay Reduction
We also welcomed applications for other projects related to patient flow. The application deadline is 30 September COB.
Projects awarded funding are invited to the HSE Patient Flow Academy conference on 13 November. Successful applicants were requested to submit a project synopsis for inclusion on the HSE Patient Flow Academy webpage. For further details please visit Patient Flow Academy Conference 2024.
Patient Flow Academy Excellence Awards Guide (PDF, size 513 KB, 6 pages)
Resources about Patient Flow
A number of resources, including videos from different sites, are being developed.
Webinars about Patient Flow for HSE staff
A series of Patient Flow Academy webinars for HSE staff are being organised as part of this work and are open to all operational and front-line clinical staff across acute and community services with an interest in patient flow.
Patient Flow Academy Webinar 6 12 December 2024
Our sixth patient flow webinar, Understanding and Addressing the Urgent and Emergency Care Challenge: The Mater Journey focuses on the Mater Transformation Team, their model and their experience of understanding the complexity of urgent and emergency care to develop appropriate solutions to address this challenge. The presentation and panel discussion includes:
Understanding and Addressing the Urgent and Emergency Care Challenge (YouTube)
- Heather Coetzee, Interim Chief Operating Officer, Mater Hospital
- Aileen Igoe, Lean & Systems Redesign Lead, Mater Transformation, Mater Hospital
- Siobhan Manning, Service Innovation & Design Lead, Mater Transformation, Mater Hospital
- Prof. Jim Egan, Clinical Director, Mater Hospital
- Prof. Peter Kearney, Clinical Director, HSE South and West
- Kieran McDonald, General Manger, Naas General Hospital
Patient Flow Academy Webinar 5 3 October 2024
Our fifth integrated patient flow operations webinar: Optimal Management of Care of the Older Person in Community Services includes presentations by front-line staff responsible for leading clinical care for older persons in community services including:
Full Webinar: Patient Flow Academy Webinar #5 Optimal Management of Care of the Older Person in Community Services (YouTube.com)
Patient Flow Academy Webinar 4 August 29 2024
Our fourth integrated patient flow operations webinar: Optimal Management of Care of the Older Person in Urgent and Emergency Care Services includes presentations by front-line staff responsible for leading clinical care for Older Persons in their respective services.
Optimal Management of Care of the Older Adult in Urgent and Emergency Care Services (youtube.com)
Dr Mike O’Connor (HSE national Clinical Advisor and Group Lead, Acute Hospitals) introduced the webinar which featured Dr Emer Ahern, National Clinical Advisor for Older Persons and Consultant Trauma and Orthogeriatrician in Cork University Hospital, Dr Rosa McNamara, National Clinical Lead for the Emergency Programme and Consultant in Emergency Medicine, St Vincent’s University Hospital and Dr Marie O’ Connor, Consultant in Geriatric Medicine, Connolly Hospital and Centre for Rehabilitation at National Orthopaedic Hospital, Cappagh.
Patient Flow Academy Webinar 4 (youtube.com)
Patient Flow Academy Webinar 3 July 25 2024
Our third Integrated patient flow operations webinar: ‘Why patient time is the most important currency in patient flow’ was presented by Professor Brian Dolan OBE. Bernard Gloster (HSE CEO) and Dr Mike O’Connor (HSE national Clinical Advisor and Group Lead, Acute Hospitals) introduced the webinar which included a panel discussion with Dr Andy Phillips (REO, HSE South West), Dr Colm Henry (HSE Chief Clinical Officer), Dr Emer Ahern (National Clinical Advisor and Group Lead, Acute Hospitals) and Alison Enright, Director SCOPe HSCP, St James’s Hospital
Patient Flow Academy Webinar 3 (youtube.com)
This presentation by Professor Brian Dolan OBE outlines why patient time is the most important currency in patient flow: Prof Brian Dolan HSE webinar 25 July 2024 (PDF, size 10.5 MB, 46 pages)
This is a link to a range of resources on valuing patients time: Valuing patients' time links July 2024 (PDF, size 361.1 KB, 5 pages)
Patient Flow Academy Webinar 2
Webinar 2 on 13 June 2024 focused on providing an insight into the operational management of patient flow across a number of acute and community services.
Patient Flow Academy Webinar 2: Integrated Operations
This video includes all the presentations and panel discussion. Patient Flow Academy Webinar 2: Integrated Operations (youtube.com)
This video focuses on introducing the HSE Patient Flow Academy, reviewing common patient flow challenges and the impact to patient safety and providing an overview of patient flow management strategies.
Patient Flow Academy Webinar 1 (youtube.com)
Individual presentations and videos
Operational Control, Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise
Operational Control MRHP (PDF, size 372 KB, 8 pages)
This presentation by John Joyce (General Manager, MRHP) focuses on the management of operational control in the Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise, a model 3 hospital. Operational Control, MRHP (youtube.com)
Cohorting Pilot Project, Galway University Hospital
Cohorting Pilot Project GUH (PDF, size 1.7 MB, 12 pages)
This presentation by Maria Molloy (Deputy General Manager, GUH) focuses on the planning, delivery and outcomes achieved in the cohorting pilot project in Galway University Hospital. Cohorting Pilot Project, GUH (youtube.com)
Integrated Operations, GRO UHK - University Hospital Kerry Site Improvement
GRO UHK (PDF, size 549 KB, 16 pages)
This presentation by Carol Mannix (Director of Nursing, UHK) focuses on the GRO UHK site improvement programme which aims to grow and further develop UHK in order to provide the optimal service to patients and ensure UHK as a workplace is optimised. Integrated Operations, GRO UHK - UHK Site Improvement (youtube.com)
Patient Flow - Everyone’s Business across an End-to-End Pathway of Care
Patient Flow Everyones Business across and End to End Pathway (PDF, size 838 KB, 8 pages)
This presentation by Des Mulligan (Head of Service Older Persons, Community Healthcare West) discussed the importance of patient flow across an end-to-end pathway with a particular focus on older persons. Patient Flow - Everyone’s Business across an End-to-End Pathway of Care (youtube.com)
2024 Patient Flow Academy event
An event for HSE frontline staff is being organised and full details, including how to register for this event, will be available shortly.
2023 Patient Flow Academy event
On 16th October 2023 the HSE hosted an ‘Introduction to the Patient Flow Academy’ event.
The event brought together nearly 200 colleagues in person from all over the country to hear about a range of issues including driving improvement in the HSE, an introduction to the Patient Flow Academy and the principles of Good Patient Discharge to Improve Patient Flow.
Attendees heard from senior colleagues in the HSE, expert speakers working in improving patient flow, including keynote speakers Dr Liz Lees, Professor of Nursing Practice, Centre for Care Excellence, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust and Dr Mike O’Connor, HSE National Clinical Advisor, Acute Operations.
We heard from HSE leaders from teams around the country about driving improvement for patient safety, quality and care through enhanced integrated patient flow.
Agenda
Agenda for the day
Presentations
Download presentations given at Patient Flow Academy Introductory event 2023
Dr Mike O’Connor, Keynote address: An Introduction to the Patient Flow Academy
Dr Liz Lees, Keynote address: Principles of Good Patient Discharge to Improve Patient Flow: Evidence and Pragmatism
The Patient Flow Academy will provide resources and supports to drive improvements in patient flow including processes, pathways and systems. The HSE Patient Flow Academy will help improve patient care, increase efficiency, enhance communications, optimise resource allocation, and increase patient satisfaction.
The HSE Patient Flow Academy will improve patient flow by supporting health and social care staff to identify, define and improve processes, pathways and systems for the safe, timely and effective delivery of care driven by a culture of continuous improvement. This will be achieved through the development and delivery of supports and resources targeting the following workstreams:
Leadership Development
To develop competent and capable leaders who are able to drive, achieve and sustain improvements.
Staff engagement and training
To develop staff awareness, knowledge, skills and attitudes regarding patient flow as part of a whole system approach.
Integrated working and knowledge transfer
To develop communities of practice which facilitates integrated working, sharing of best practice and knowledge transfer.
Innovation and transformation supports
To provide a suite of best practice resources and toolkits alongside practical supports to enable transformation.
Monitoring and evaluation
To monitor and evaluate the impact of the Patient Flow Academy including national and local patient flow improvement initiatives to support evidence based practice.
The underlying principles of the Patient Flow Academy are as follows;
- Patient at the centre of the academy
- Promote patient flow as "everyone’s responsibility".
- Connecting top down and bottom-up approaches to drive a culture of quality improvement to patient flow
- Collaborating through an integrated whole system approach
- Building staff capability through empowerment and engagement
- Supporting and evaluating innovations
The next steps for the Patient Flow Academy include the following:
- Develop and deliver a programme of work;
- Establish the governance structure;
- Start with a small dedicated national team.
