Use of Medical Protocols to Improve the Hospital Length of Stay and Quality of Care

Abstract

Improving the quality of patient care includes measures to reduce hospitalisation time and improve recovery conditions and consequently patient safety during their stay in the hospital. The most common complications that arise during the nursing of patients in hospitals, which lead to extended length of stay, are hospital-acquired infections and thrombotic events. In our efforts, as the Naousa General Hospital, to reduce the incidence of these complications, we proceeded to the creation of specialized medical protocols for their prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment. We recorded measurements and results of improvements in various cases and different implementation times of medical protocols and processed the collected data with specific statistical indicators. Through the statistical analysis of the data recorded, we found significant benefits and a noticeable improvement in key performance and quality indicators in the overall conditions of hospitalisation of patients. We conclude that by applying and utilizing specific medical protocols and monitoring their results, we can reduce the incidence of hospitalacquired infections and thrombosis, thus we achieve to reduce the average length of stay in our hospital and increase the overall quality and safety of care. Our findings clearly indicate that investment of human and financial resources in the development, evolution, and proper application of protocols can have multiple benefits, both to patients and hospital organisations.