Improving Reliability to a Care Goal Rounding Template in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

Effective pediatric intensive care requires addressing many important aspects of care delivery during morning rounds, often achieved using a rounding checklist. Our objective was to develop a care goal rounding template and then double the reliability of discussion of rounding topics during morning rounds without the use of a checklist.

The Institute for Healthcare Improvement Model for Improvement was used for this initiative. A care goal rounding template was established through discussions and consensus with pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) faculty. Rounds were audited in a blinded fashion over a 3-month period to obtain baseline data on rounding topic discussion. Three interventions were then trialed (plan, do, study, act cycles) over a 12-month period. Weekly reliability in rounding topic discussion was tracked.

Baseline reliability with discussion of rounding topics was 36%. The first intervention included the use of a standardized progress note in the electronic health record, which contained topics and served to prompt the discussion on rounds. The second intervention was implementation of laminated cards provided to PICU fellows highlighting the elements of the care goal rounding template. The third intervention addressed a standardized handoff sheet often used during rounds. Mean reliability for discussion of rounding topics improved to 52% shortly following the second intervention. Reliability was sustained more than 1 year later.

Following the establishment of a PICU care goal rounding template and various interventions, the reliability in discussing important care goal elements on patient rounds improved.