Patient transfers during hospitalization: An examination of intra facility patient locations using network analysis

Patient movements following hospitalization are difficult to track. In a large Midwestern academic institution, we analyzed data using network statistics for patients discharged by the hospitalist service between June 2016-June 2018. We retrieved all major patient movements logged in the patient throughput management system following admission. The 4,869 patients discharged by the hospitalist service during the study period experienced 6,832 movements. The mean was 1.4 movements per patient while the maximum was 8. Most patients (72.3%) moved once following hospitalization while 27.7% moved more than once. The predominant movement type was downgrades which comprised 51.8% (n = 3,543) of all movements. Lateral movements were the next most common (25.9%, n = 1,771). Network statistics revealed progressive care units to be central to patient flow across the system. Transfers following hospitalization are common. Visualizing these transfers using network statistics may provide valuable insights to enhance patient safety.