RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Introducing an electronic tracking tool into daily multidisciplinary discharge rounds on a medicine service: a quality improvement project to reduce length of stay
JF BMJ Open Quality
JO BMJ Open Qual
FD British Medical Journal Publishing Group
SP e000174
DO 10.1136/bmjoq-2017-000174
VO 7
IS 3
A1 Nicholas Meo
A1 Evan Paul
A1 Christopher Wilson
A1 Janice Powers
A1 Marinette Magbual
A1 Kari Mae Miles
YR 2018
UL http://bmjopenquality.bmj.com/content/7/3/e000174.abstract
AB Background Inefficient coordination of care around discharge can increase length of stay, lead to ineffective transitions and contribute an unnecessary cost burden to patients and hospital systems. Multidisciplinary discharge rounds can improve situational awareness among team members leading to more efficient and better coordinated care. This project aimed to standardise the daily discharge rounds occurring on a medicine service to reduce length of stay. Participants included physicians, nurses and social workers.Methods A key driver diagram was developed to understand drivers of length of stay. Improving multidisciplinary care coordination was targeted as an initial area of focus. Stakeholder interviews were held to understand current participants challenges with the daily discharge rounds process. Baseline assessment included a review of discharges for 6 weeks before the initial intervention. A Plan Do Study Act quality improvement framework was used to implement change.Intervention An electronic tool was developed which highlighted critical information to be captured during discharge rounds on each current inpatient in a standardised fashion. Information was reviewed and solicited from care teams by a facilitator, then edited and displayed in real time to all team members by a scribe.Results The average length of stay decreased by 1.4 days (p<0.05), an improvement of 21.1%. There was no measured increase on readmission rate during the intervention period.Conclusion An electronic tool to standardise information gathered among team members in daily discharge rounds led to improvements in length of stay. Multidisciplinary discharge rounds are an important venue for discharge planning across inpatient care teams and efforts to optimise communication between team members can improve care.