Fast Track System at the Emergency Room | Kishwaukee Community Hospital

Fast Track System

Fast Track is a system of classifying and treating patients for the purposes of improving patient flow and decreasing wait times.

Kishwaukee Community Hospital’s Emergency Department is a fast-paced environment with a staff that is quick on its feet. One example of how emergency staff has worked to keep up with the growing needs of the communities it serves is the Fast Track system. First implemented in August 2007, the Fast Track system has been continued at the new hospital in order to help solve the problems of a busy emergency room. The Fast Track system has helped to decrease wait times, therefore serving our patients better. Fast Track is open from 2 p.m. to midnight daily.

The Fast Track Process

Patient arrives at the Emergency Department reception desk.

EMT assesses his or her condition, gets preliminary registration information, and places an identification band on the patient’s wrist.

Patient’s name and chief complaint appear on the monitor to alert the triage nurse of the waiting patient.

Patient’s condition is evaluated in triage and the decision is made about the severity of the injury or illness.

For minor injuries like a sprain or a minor illness like a sore throat or an earache, patient is designated for Fast Track.

Patient is escorted to a semi-private room that can accommodate more patients at one time.

Patient is seen by the doctor, treated, registration information is taken, and the patient is released.