Patient-Centered Bedside Rounds and the Clinical Examination

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Patient Care
• Healthcare Communication

Background:

• Bedside hospital rounds are increasingly recognized for promoting patient-centered care.
• Both patients and healthcare providers show growing acceptance and preference for bedside rounds.
• Optimizing efficiency in bedside rounds is crucial, especially with interprofessional teams or learners.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the benefits of bedside hospital rounds in various healthcare settings.
• To discuss strategies for enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of bedside rounds.
• To emphasize the role of communication and structure in patient-centered bedside care.

Main Methods:

• Review of current practices and literature on bedside hospital rounds.
• Discussion of patient and provider preferences and acceptance.
• Exploration of methods for structuring bedside rounds, including "choreography" and communication strategies.

Main Results:

• Bedside rounds are effective in promoting patient-centered care in both teaching and nonteaching hospitals.
• Patients and families strongly prefer bedside rounds, and provider acceptance is rising.
• Structured approaches, including patient preparation and team "choreography," improve efficiency and experience.

Conclusions:

• Investing time in bedside rounds enhances both patient and provider experiences.
• Relationship-centered communication is key to making rounds patient proximate and patient centered.
• Integrating clinical examinations into bedside rounds can streamline care and improve outcomes.