Sune Laugesen, a medical doctor, has been part of the Emergency Department (FAM) at OUH since 2013. Today, he serves as Head of Education and Chief Physician, specializing in emergency and general medicine. Additionally, he is an external lecturer at the University of Southern Denmark and a Ph.D. student.
In his work at OUH’s Emergency Department, Sune relies daily on predictions from the Praemostro system, which he considers an invaluable tool:
“Fundamentally, the system predicts the number of incoming patients in the coming hours, allowing us to manage our resources as optimally as possible. This includes staffing levels for doctors and nurses as well as bed availability for patients,” he begins.
“Praemostro’s system is a critical tool for us every day, hour by hour, as it enables us to maintain the highest possible level of patient safety. If we’re too busy and unprepared for the workload, it can negatively affect patient care, making staff tasks more complicated on multiple fronts. This, in turn, can lead to reduced quality in decision-making and empathy. In this way, being overwhelmed can become a potential threat to patient safety,” he explains.
But what actually happens when things get too busy? The risks include patients waiting excessively, some not being treated in time, a lack of bed capacity, staff confusion, and, over time, stress or burnout. This can result in poor prioritization and less optimal decisions — outcomes that benefit no one.
“With Praemostro’s forecasting system, we have a very accurate indication of when things will get busy, and this significantly impacts how we work in the moment. It helps us answer questions like: When can we eat? Do we need to call in extra resources? What has the highest priority right now? What can wait? How much time can I spend with each patient? Knowing roughly how the hours will unfold allows us to prepare for potential waves of busyness. It’s immensely reassuring to stay ‘ahead of the plane,’ as we call it,” Sune emphasizes.
When you know when a shift will get busy, you are far more in control. That’s precisely what Praemostro’s system contributes to through its predictions.
“When you are mentally prepared for something, you can handle much more than if it comes as a surprise. Control brings clarity, calmness, and a good mood, whereas surprise and the feeling of losing control can lead to frustration, reduced efficiency, and so on,” he states.
In practice, Sune uses Praemostro’s system by checking the large screen in the department at the start of a shift and then approximately once an hour. The graphs provide him with insights to inform colleagues about upcoming waves of busyness, optimize current resource usage, or call in additional staff if needed.
“Praemostro’s system is a great help in our daily work! It increases patient safety and improves staff well-being,” he concludes.
Sune’s three tips for staff facing busy shifts
How does busyness affect people?
There’s a big difference between having one or two busy shifts and working in an environment where busyness is the norm, such as in a hospital emergency department. However, acute and/or prolonged busyness can have various negative effects on people, both physically and mentally:
