Enhancing patient satisfaction and experience through bedside interdisciplinary rounds: a quality improvement study

Abstract

Introduction Interdisciplinary rounds (IDRs) involve collaborative patient care where healthcare professionals from various disciplines meet to discuss and plan patient management. In this project, bedside IDRs were introduced at our hospital to enhance care quality, improve communication among medical teams and increase patient satisfaction. Methodology After educating the staff, bedside IDRs were implemented with a team consisting of hospitalists, medical residents, nurses, nurse leaders, nutritionists, case managers and social workers, who gathered at each patient's bedside to discuss treatment plans and involve patients and their families in real-time discussions. Patient satisfaction was evaluated using Press Ganey (PG) scores over a 7-month period, comparing them with pre-implementation scores. Additionally, staff feedback on workflow and communication was gathered through pre- and postsurveys. Results Over 7 months, bedside IDRs led to significant improvements in patient satisfaction and physician-patient communication, as reflected in PG scores. Patients reported feeling more respected and listened to, with a greater understanding of their disease and treatment plan. Staff surveys showed notable improvements in inter-departmental communication and discharge planning effectiveness. Discussion Bedside IDRs improved key patient care aspects, including communication, respect and understanding of treatment plans. By involving the entire healthcare team in patient discussions, a more collaborative and patient-centred approach was fostered, leading to patients feeling heard and respected. A clearer, unified treatment plan improved patients' understanding of their care. Despite initial coordination challenges, these were addressed with standardised scheduling. Overall, bedside IDRs resulted in better communication among providers, more comprehensive care plans, timely discharges and increased patient satisfaction, ultimately enhancing healthcare delivery. Conclusion Ultimately, bedside IDRs contributed to improved healthcare delivery, with positive outcomes on different aspects. These findings highlight the potential of bedside IDRs to improve the quality of care and patient satisfaction in hospital settings.