Organizations have historically focused throughput efforts on reducing avoidable inpatient length of stay. Some hospitals have already maximized throughput gains in this area.

But organizations that still have room for improvement in this area should start here before moving on to more time-intensive strategies. This strategy is the fastest way to relieve capacity pressure. It creates breathing room for leaders to go after more time—and resource—intensive opportunities later. And starting with quick wins can engender support from frontline clinicians for more complicated patient flow initiatives in the future.