Introduction of Physician-Nurse Bedside Rounding and Ward Task List to Improve Quality of Care in Gynaecology: Prospective, Single-Blinded, Pre- and Post-Intervention Study.

OBJECTIVE: This study sought to determine whether physician-nurse bedside rounds and ward task list improve quality of care as measured by patient satisfaction, earlier discharge, and reduced trainee interruptions.

METHODS: This prospective, single-blind, pre- and post-intervention study included patients admitted to the gynaecology ward at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, Ontario, involving a 6-week baseline, 6-week intervention, and 2-week second baseline phase. During the intervention phase, a chief resident and charge nurse rounded at the bedside simultaneously daily. Nurses recorded non-urgent issues on a ward task list. Patients completed a subset of the National Research Corporation Picker satisfaction questionnaire, discharge times were noted, and residents recorded pages (Canadian Task Force Classification II-2).

RESULTS: There were 89, 104, and 30 admissions during baseline care, intervention, and second baseline phases, respectively. Mean discharge time in the intervention phase was significantly earlier than baseline (11:18 am ± 1 hour 59 minutes vs. 12:37 pm ± 2 hours 37 minutes, P < 0.001), with early discharges doubling (69% vs. 36%, P < 0.001). Discharge times returned to baseline after the intervention (12:36 pm ± 2 hours 39 minutes). Intervention phase patients appreciated bedside care plans (86 of 94 patients, 92%), with improved National Research Corporation Picker responses, which diminished post-intervention. Paging interruptions were lower during the intervention phase compared with the baseline phase (1.0 ± 1.1 vs. 3.4 ± 2.1, P < 0.001), with non-urgent pages decreasing most (0.5 ± 0.8 vs. 3.0 ± 2.0, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION: Combining physician-nurse bedside rounds and ward task list reduces trainee interruptions, positively affects patient satisfaction, and promotes early discharge. Following these initiatives, discharge time, patient satisfaction, and resident paging interruptions returned to baseline.