Unique Hospital Unit Provides Seamless Care Faster and Reduces Holds in Area Emergency Departments

Almost a year ago, UnityPoint Health – Meriter piloted a unique admission unit, designed to streamline patient flow from emergency departments to inpatient units.

Adapted from international best practices, UnityPoint Health – Meriter's admission unit stands out for its location within the main hospital rather than within the emergency department itself. Staffed by a dedicated team of nurses and providers specializing in admission decisions, this unit expedites patient care initiation, thereby reducing overall length of stay and potentially preventing inpatient admissions.

The unit accommodates four to eight adult patients at a time, with the goal to route half of all daily hospital admissions through this unit. Eligible patients are those aged 18 and above, with general medical concerns (excluding pediatric and OB patients).

Since its inception in July 2023, the unit has served over 2,700 patients. Approximately five patients per week have avoided full hospital admission thanks to the care provided within the unit. Patients admitted through the admission unit experience a shorter length of stay, averaging 4.1 days compared to 4.97 days on other units. Nearly half of all admission unit patients spend fewer than six hours in the unit. Moreover, the median boarding time from Meriter's emergency department to the admission unit remains lower than that to all other inpatient units at the hospital.

The unit, which collaborates with the UW Health Access Center, serves Meriter's emergency department and clinics as well as UW Health’s University Hospital, East Madison Hospital, and other nearby emergency departments.