Hospital Capacity Management (ePub)

Robbin Dick, MD, FACP started his career in 1988 working in the Emergency Department and trained in Internal Medicine. This role served him well in developing concepts and principles around efficiency and process improvement. Robbin developed the first recognized observation unit in NY State to improve ED efficiency in 1996 which started him on the journey of observation medicine and hospital capacity management. In 2003, he joined the University of Rochester Emergency Department and implemented and managed a 36-bed observation unit. In 2009, he had the opportunity to focus on the use of Lean-Six-Sigma concepts in hospital capacity management. As Vice President of Clinical Efficiency, Dr. Dick developed new models of care delivery and integration. His professional work career includes being Director of Observation Services managing the Observation Service line for Medical Emergency Professionals across the state of Maryland.

In 2016, his company joined USACS (US Acute Care Solutions) where Robbin served as Chief of Observation Services for the organization until October, 2018. During his time with USACS, he developed a National Observation Service Line which included well-defined protocols, a robust teaching module based off a MKSAP (Medical Knowledge Self-Assessment Program), testing guidelines, a peer-review process, electronic I-PAD patient satisfaction program and national oversite of the Observation Programs operational development. USACS currently has over 15 Observation units with over 70,000 encounters yearly and is the largest Observation program in the United States. Currently, Robbin's focus is on consultative services in Observation Medicine and Hospital Capacity Management.

Robert Agness, BA is an experienced professional in operational management. He received Lean Sigma training under Shingo Ztisu trainers at Eastman Kodak's Lean Institute early in his career. His role at Kodak involved the application of Lean Sigma principles