Patient Perceptions and Real-Time Observations of Bedside Rounding Team Communication: The Interprofessional Teamwork...

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Teamwork and Communication in Healthcare
• Patient-Centered Care Models

Background:

• Interdisciplinary rounds aim to overcome barriers in teamwork, communication, and patient care quality.
• The Interprofessional Teamwork Innovation Model (ITIM) is a structured approach to team-based care delivery.
• Understanding communication dynamics is crucial for effective interprofessional collaboration.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine communication and teamwork within the Interprofessional Teamwork Innovation Model (ITIM).
• To assess the impact of ITIM on patient care quality and experiences.
• To identify system-level factors influencing teamwork and communication in healthcare settings.

Main Methods:

• A multimethod study involving observations and patient surveys across two hospital sites (community-based and academic medical center).
• Observations of 68 ITIM teams and 685 patient visits were conducted.
• Patient surveys collected feedback on their experiences with ITIM teams.

Main Results:

• Length of stay (LOS) was negatively associated with team structures and communication in the community hospital, and associated with communication in the academic medical center.
• Geographic cohorting emerged as a system factor influencing teamwork and communication processes.
• Patients reported satisfaction with ITIM, describing encounters as collaborative and supportive, especially when given opportunities to ask questions and be heard.

Conclusions:

• System-level, patient-centered approaches like ITIM are valuable for structured team care delivery.
• Facilitating patient engagement in communication (asking questions, speaking without interruption) is linked to higher patient satisfaction.
• Healthcare leaders can consider implementing ITIM to enhance patient experiences and the quality of bedside care.