Martha Jefferson Hospital

• Find A Doctor
• Clinical Services

  Choose a service below or visit our main clinical services page to learn more.

  • Anesthesiology
  • Bariatric/Weight Loss Surgery
  • Cancer Care Center
  • Cardiology Care Center
  • Diabetes
  • Digestive Health Center
  • Emergency Department
  • General Surgery
  • Joint Surgery

  • Laboratory Services
  • Maternity Care
  • Medical Imaging
  • Neurosciences
  • Nutrition Services
  • Palliative Care
  • Physical, Occupational &
    Speech Therapy
  • Aesthetic & Reconstructive Surgery

  • Reproductive Medicine
  • Respiratory Therapy
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Spine Surgery
  • Stroke Center
  • Thoracic Surgery
  • Vascular Center
  • Women's Health Center
  • Wound Care Services
• Patient Information
• Programs & Classes
• Join Our Team

  Join Us in Building a Legacy

  • Working at Martha Jefferson
  • Clinical Professionals
  • Non-Clinical Professionals
  • Facilities Support
  • Find a Job

  • Employee Transfer
  • New Hires
  • Volunteering at Martha Jefferson
  • Employee Testimonials

Decreased Wait Times Improve Quality of Care

Martha Jefferson Hospital has streamlined the way things are done in its emergency departments to ensure that patients receive quick, efficient, quality care. In fact, with the processes in place now, most patients are able to be seen in 15 minutes or less at both emergency department locations.

Despite the improved times, doctors say the care patients receive is not compromised. Dr. Leroy Caudill, an emergency department physician, talks about what the changes mean to him.

Q: How do decreased wait times help you better deliver quality care?
A: There are very specific diseases that are time dependent, one of which is a heart attack. Other areas that are important are infections. As soon as we get antibiotics on board, the sooner we can treat them and keep them from deteriorating. The same thing goes for dehydration. There are a number of things that are time-dependent, and any time-consuming steps that have to be taken before they can see a nurse or doctor are detrimental.

Q: How do the doctors, nurses and EMS squads work together?
A: It starts—at least with the patients that come by ambulance—once the EMS staff has the patient. They call in and tell us what they have and what they're working with and then we know what to expect and how to prepare.

Q: The Emergency Department is a very high stress area. Does the low wait time protocol make your job more difficult?
A: I think it actually makes it less stressful because the patients are happier then they were before. Nothing is worse then trying to take care of someone who is disgruntled. We track the times after a patient arrives. How long have they been waiting? How long was it until they were seen? All that information is shared with the staff so we know how we are doing.

Q: How does it make you feel to be able to provide these services to your patients?
A: You're kind of asking someone who is biased, because like I said, ever since I've finished my residency I've felt triage is the wrong process. Every institution I've been associated with I've tried to get it eliminated, and I was unsuccessful until I got here. I think it enhances our ability. It enhances our treatment. It enhances our institution.

Awards and Accolades