Streamlining Communication: "Resident Huddle" on General Medicine Wards at a Veterans Affairs Hospital

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Healthcare Management
• Patient Safety

Background:

• Effective orientation for medical trainees in new settings is crucial.
• Huddles are recognized for enhancing communication and safety.
• The application of huddles for orienting trainees to systems and changes in general medicine wards was previously unexamined.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement a weekly inpatient huddle involving residents and hospital leaders.
• To enhance the dissemination of information concerning health system operations to trainees.

Main Methods:

• Established a weekly 20-minute "Resident Huddle" for senior internal medicine residents on general medicine wards.
• Content included system updates, process reminders, feedback, and trainee-raised safety concerns.
• Assessed trainee reactions via surveys and evaluated changes in medication reconciliation documentation rates.

Main Results:

• The huddle provided useful information (94%), improved work engagement (73%), and offered practice feedback (90%).
• Trainees felt issues were acknowledged and acted upon (86%).
• Admission medication reconciliation completion rates improved significantly from 32% to 73% post-intervention.

Conclusions:

• A weekly huddle between hospital leaders and residents enhances communication and operational knowledge.
• This intervention equips trainees to improve patient care outcomes.
• The huddle fostered a greater sense of engagement among trainees within their work environment.