Better, Not Just Bigger

With 70,000 annual visits—and a high incidence of trauma cases for a community hospital—an expansion that doubled their space was only part of the solution for Baptist Health Hardin’s Emergency Department. Reimagining how they deliver care was critical.

The “ribbon” layout with its radially arrayed exam rooms and glass partitions establish clear sightlines; universal exam rooms allow departments to flex according to patient volume. A robust triage area improves patient flow by supporting quicker testing, evaluation, and resolution for patients less critical patients, and better segmentation for others. Centrally located staff break rooms let medical personnel ‘take five’ while staying connected to patients and peers.

Emergency care involves diverse treatment protocols. To ensure the right supplies are always within reach, they’re tiered: Exam rooms are stocked with standard items; specialist supplies—for suturing, broken bones, sexual assault, etc.— live in color coded carts stationed throughout the corridor; refills are distributed from central supply rooms.

We used lean principles to identify value streams—quality, safety, security, and flow— that helped transform their operational model. The result is a high-volume emergency department that moved from ‘making do’ to a better, more efficient experience for patients and staff.