B D Finch Oct 15, 2009:

But not perhaps here Of course, this sort of manipulation is probably not happening in this case. It is just that the (perfectly correct) term "patient flow" sounds a bit like a depersonalised conveyor belt.

B D Finch Oct 15, 2009:

Keep them moving As Neil says, it is about keeping them coming into the system and moving around it. Many years ago, I was interviewed for a statistics and research job at a large London hospital. I walked out when it became clear how they wanted to improve their figures. e.g. patient A is discharged on Tuesday morning, patient B is admitted to the same bed Tuesday afternoon, patient A, on readmission two days later, becomes patient C). They wanted the statistics to show this as efficient treatment of 3 patients and a high patient to bed ratio. They did not want the figures to show discharge one day early leading to 3 or 4 extra days in hospital for the same patient.

Neil Coffey Oct 15, 2009:

"patient flow" but check meaning I think "patient flow" is probably the right translation, but N.B. this doesn't necessarily mean just the *number* of patients-- at least as used within the NHS in Britain, "patient flow" refers more to the efficiency with which patients are referred between the different departments as required during their care.