Patient Safety Initiative Using Peer Observations and Feedback Inspire Collegial Workplace Culture

Following Joint Commission recommendations for standardizing patient handoffs, direct peer observations and feedback were utilized in order to improve patient safety related to transitions of care in the Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine at Kapi'olani Medical Center for Women & Children. All hospitalist attendings were trained in an evidence-based handoff bundle inclusive of team communication and feedback strategies. For the initial project, each hospitalist performed 12 peer observations and feedback sessions using validated tools for verbal and written handoffs over 6 months. For a subsequent "refresher" project, each hospitalist performed 6 handoff observations. Attendings were surveyed several times before, during, and after completion of the multiple iterations of the project. A qualitative interview was conducted 6 years after the initial handoff project. In total, 204 observations were completed by 17 hospitalists during the initial project. The perceived overall quality of the patient handoff improved significantly across shifts (P < .001 for the quality of each of two critical daily handoffs) as did pediatric hospitalists' confidence in providing peer feedback (P < .001). Downstream effects of this activity led to additional benefits towards the cohesive growth of the division. Themes from post-project qualitative interviews regarding the peer observation and feedback portion of the study included that it was "helpful," "collaborative," and inspired "camaraderie" that led to increased comfort and participation during future opportunities for observation and feedback. Performing direct peer observations with feedback strengthened the workplace culture, promoted growth through collaboration, and allowed acceptance and success of future projects involving peer observations and feedback.