Measuring the Impact of a Formalized Surgical Patient Signout System

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Patient Safety
• Healthcare Quality Improvement

Background:

• Routine patient signout is crucial for patient care continuity.
• Existing signout systems often present challenges for surgical residents.
• Standardized approaches can mitigate patient harm and improve outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a standardized surgical signout model on resident satisfaction.
• To assess improvements in resident preparedness for cross-covered surgical services.

Main Methods:

• A 16-question survey assessed surgical resident satisfaction before and after implementing the "CUTS" (Core problem, Updates, Things-to-do, Setbacks) signout model.
• Residents completed surveys at 1, 3, and 6-month intervals post-implementation.
• Descriptive and inferential statistics analyzed trends in satisfaction and preparedness.

Main Results:

• Resident satisfaction with signout increased from 41.1% to 80% post-implementation.
• Perceived preparedness for overnight events and calls improved by 27% and 5.5% respectively.
• No significant change in the time spent on signout was observed.

Conclusions:

• The standardized "CUTS" surgical signout model enhances resident satisfaction and preparedness.
• The model may improve patient understanding and readiness for managing cross-covered patients.
• Further investigation is warranted to determine the effect of the "CUTS" system on patient outcomes.