Direct and Surgical Direct Admissions

by Laura Bacak, Case Management Supervisor

The Direct Admissions program has been up and running successfully at TMCA since March 2008. This program allows primary care physicians or tertiary physicians in outlying hospitals to refer or admit their patients directly into a bed at TMCA, bypassing the emergency department. This leaves the ED available for truly emergent patients and allows those patients whose clinical assessment has already been completed to go straight to a room to begin their care.

From 13 patients in March of 2008 to 90 patients in November of 2010, the program has grown by leaps and bounds. The program is supported both by physician and patient feedback as well as by hospital administration. The program is managed through the case management department Monday-Friday 8:00 am to 4:30 pm and by bed board and the house supervisor after hours and weekends. Additionally, the program allows a one-call format for referral and coordination of bed assignment.

The initial program was so successful that in July of 2010, a surgical direct admission program was coordinated at the request of TMCA surgeons. This program “operates” (pun intended) under the same premise and with the same staff as the original direct admission program but facilitates surgical admissions.

For more information or to refer a patient, contact Direct Admissions at 303-873-4882 and experience the “one call does it all” philosophy.