Implementing iRound: A Computer-Based Auditing Tool.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Quality Improvement
• Patient Experience

Background:

• Hospitals utilize rounding and auditing to identify quality gaps and enhance patient experience.
• Purposeful rounding is known to improve Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) scores through expectation management, service recovery, and caregiver recognition.

Purpose of the Study:

• To standardize the rounding and auditing process within a hospital setting.
• To implement a digital tool, iRound, for patient experience, process, and quality rounding.

Main Methods:

• Transitioned from a pen-and-paper system to the iRound digital tool.
• Focused on standardizing data collection and reporting across all hospital units.
• Ensured comparability and trustworthiness of data through a unified approach.

Main Results:

• The iRound tool facilitated standardized data reporting, overcoming previous difficulties.
• Implementation aimed to break down siloed departmental cultures.
• A consistent approach to audits and rounds across units was established.

Conclusions:

• Standardizing rounding processes with tools like iRound is crucial for improving healthcare quality and patient satisfaction.
• Successful implementation requires strategic planning and sustained effort.
• The initiative addressed critical needs for data comparability and interdepartmental collaboration.