What caused the sudden 50% increase in patient wait times at CommonSpirit Health's emergency departments last week?

Introduction

The sudden 50% increase in patient wait times at CommonSpirit Health's emergency departments last week is a critical issue that demands immediate attention. This analysis will systematically identify, validate, and address the root cause while considering both short-term and long-term implications for patient care and operational efficiency.

I'll approach this problem by first clarifying the context, then ruling out external factors before diving deep into the product ecosystem, metric breakdown, and data analysis. From there, I'll form hypotheses, conduct root cause analysis, and propose validation methods and solutions.

Step 1

Clarifying Questions (3 minutes)

• Looking at the timing, I'm thinking this could be a recent change. Has there been any significant system update or process change implemented in the past month?

Why it matters: Recent changes often correlate with sudden metric shifts. Expected answer: Yes, a new patient management system was rolled out two weeks ago. Impact on approach: If confirmed, I'd focus on system-related hypotheses and implementation issues.

• Considering the scale of the increase, I'm wondering about data accuracy. Can we confirm that the wait time measurement methodology hasn't changed and that all systems are reporting correctly?

Why it matters: Ensures we're not chasing a data anomaly instead of a real problem. Expected answer: The measurement system is unchanged and has been verified. Impact on approach: If inconsistent, we'd need to investigate data collection processes first.

• Given the healthcare context, I'm curious about staffing levels. Have there been any significant changes in ED staffing or scheduling in the past month?

Why it matters: Staffing directly impacts patient wait times and care delivery. Expected answer: No major staffing changes reported. Impact on approach: If staffing changes occurred, we'd need to consider workforce optimization strategies.

• Thinking about patient demographics, has there been any notable shift in the types of cases presenting to the ED recently?

Why it matters: Changes in case mix can significantly impact wait times and resource allocation. Expected answer: No significant changes in patient demographics or case types. Impact on approach: If changes are noted, we'd need to investigate capacity planning and triage processes.