Returning to the Bedside: Notes From a Clinical Educator

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Patient-Centered Care
• Healthcare Communication

Background:

• Traditional teaching rounds have moved away from patient bedsides over 30 years.
• This shift sidelines patients and families, crucial healthcare resources.
• Management discussions often occur in conference rooms or hallways.

Purpose of the Study:

• To reverse the trend of teaching rounds moving away from the bedside.
• To re-integrate patients and families into clinical decision-making.
• To promote structured interdisciplinary bedside rounds.

Main Methods:

• Implementing bedside presentations for newly admitted patients.
• Facilitating structured interdisciplinary bedside rounds.
• Observing the shift in teaching round locations and participant engagement.

Main Results:

• Teaching rounds are increasingly returning to the patient bedside.
• Patients and families are being re-included in healthcare discussions.
• Structured interdisciplinary bedside rounds are being adopted.

Conclusions:

• Bedside rounds enhance patient and family involvement in healthcare.
• Reversing the trend of away-from-bedside rounds improves patient-centered care.
• Structured interdisciplinary bedside rounds are an effective model.