Case Study: Interprofessional Team Rounds in Acute Care
Lincoln County Hospital decided to implement interprofessional team rounds each morning to discuss each patient’s condition and the events in the past 24 hours and to collaboratively develop a plan of care. The purpose of this new process was to minimize unnecessary services, reduce delays and gaps in care, and enhance collaborative patient-centered care. Previously, there were two formal processes for communicating patient information: the electronic medical record and the change-of-shift handoff by nursing held in a small conference room next to the nurses station.
The new interprofessional team rounds were implemented at the bedside with the nurse, the attending physician, and the patient and included any family members who were present. After a few weeks with the new process, staff noted enhanced communication and follow through on the plan of care. Preliminary feedback from patients and families was positive, and they valued regular updates on the plan of care. Staff realized there was further opportunity to include other members of the team in the interprofessional rounds.
Discussion Questions
- Discuss any anticipated barriers to implementing daily interdisciplinary rounds in the hospital. For each of the anticipated barriers suggest specific, realistic strategies to address the concerns.
- What are the potential benefits to implementing this new process?
- Who should be included in the daily interprofessional rounds? Consider different patient examples and list any members you consider appropriate.
- Suggest at least three strategies to monitor individual and team performance with implementation of this new process.
Case Study: Interprofessional Team Rounds in Acute Care
Lincoln County Hospital decided to implement interprofessional team rounds each morning to discuss each patient’s condition and the events in the past 24 hours and to collaboratively develop a plan of care. The purpose of this new process was to minimize unnecessary services, reduce delays and gaps in care, and enhance collaborative patient-centered care. Previously, there were two formal processes for communicating patient information: the electronic medical record and the change-of-shift handoff by nursing held in a small conference room next to the nurses station.
The new interprofessional team rounds were implemented at the bedside with the nurse, the attending physician, and the patient and included any family members who were present. After a few weeks with the new process, staff noted enhanced communication and follow through on the plan of care. Preliminary feedback from patients and families was positive, and they valued regular updates on the plan of care. Staff realized there was further opportunity to include other members of the team in the interprofessional rounds.
Discussion Questions
- Discuss any anticipated barriers to implementing daily interdisciplinary rounds in the hospital. For each of the anticipated barriers suggest specific, realistic strategies to address the concerns.
- What are the potential benefits to implementing this new process?
- Who should be included in the daily interprofessional rounds? Consider different patient examples and list any members you consider appropriate.
- Suggest at least three strategies to monitor individual and team performance with implementation of this new process.