Improving Patient Safety Communication in Residency Programs by Incorporating Patient Safety Discussions Into Rounds.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Patient Safety
• Quality Improvement

Background:

• Engaging residents in patient safety and quality improvement initiatives presents challenges.
• Developing standardized learning experiences is crucial for effective patient safety discussions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a standardized learning experience to facilitate patient safety discussions during resident rounds.
• To assess the impact of structured prompts on resident engagement in patient safety.

Main Methods:

• Residents on inpatient rotations were exposed to patient safety discussions, with a control group not receiving the intervention.
• Faculty received weekly text reminders with prompts to initiate discussions.
• Residents and faculty completed pre- and post-intervention surveys on patient safety culture and perceptions.

Main Results:

• Residents participating in discussions reported higher frequencies of safety events compared to the control group.
• Both groups showed improved communication and increased safety event reporting post-intervention.
• Most faculty found the discussions constructive and residents responsive, with minimal perceived burden.

Conclusions:

• Weekly text reminders effectively integrated patient safety discussions into resident rounds.
• The intervention positively impacted interprofessional communication and the reporting of safety events.
• The approach was well-received by both faculty and residents, suggesting feasibility for broader implementation.