Our Hospital: Four Hour Rule Program

Four Hour Rule Program

The WA Health Four Hour Rule Program will fundamentally change the way unplanned or emergency patient care is managed.  The program is a coordinated process across all WA hospital sites with emergency departments.

Joondalup Health Campus launched the program on October 26, 2009 as part of Stage 2 of the state-wide roll out.

What is the Four Hour Rule?

The Four Hour Rule Program is a redesign initiative based on delivering quality, timely and efficient patient care while introducing additional benefits to hospital staff.

A state-wide target has been set where 98 per cent of patients arriving at emergency departments are to be seen and admitted, transferred or discharged within a four-hour timeframe, unless they are required to remain within the ED for clinical reasons.

While the target is based in the ED it is important to understand that the program focuses on enhancing the ‘patient journey’ through the hospital, from admission through to discharge.

Given this is a major change process across the entire hospital, each site will have two years to redesign processes and implement improvements in order to reach target.  Joondalup Health Campus is required to meet target by October 2011.

What does the Four Hour Rule mean for me?

This project is a huge undertaking requiring major changes to the way the hospital is required to operate within the state health system. As such, the involvement of hospital staff and patients is an integral component of the redesign process.  There will be opportunities for staff to work closely with patients and consumer representatives to redesign processes and identify new ways to improve the way emergency care is managed.

Project Timeline

2009
26 October	Launch of the Four Hour Rule Program Commence Define phase	4 – 5 weeks
December	Commence Measure phase	5 – 7 weeks
2010
Mid January	Commence Analyse phase	6 – 8 weeks
Late March	Commence solution – Implementation and Control phase	18 months
2011
October	Reach final target Evaluate and maintain

Further information

• Department of Health: www.health.wa.gov.au

• Joondalup Health Campus project team: fourhourrule.jhc@ramsayhealth.com.au