Improving patient safety and communication through care rounds in a pediatric oncology outpatient clinic

The last 25 years have brought major changes to our Outpatient Pediatric Oncology Clinic: a 400% increase in patient volume, a 7-fold increase in chemotherapy infusions, and a major shift in the care delivery system. These changes and a recent sentinel event provided the impetus to improve communication by instituting daily care rounds with an interdisciplinary team. Care rounds have become the standard of practice in this clinic and are perceived to have improved communication and patient safety.