Impact of a Novel Virtual Rounding Queue Software on Nurse and Family Presence for Rounds in the Neonatal Intensive...

Area of Science:

• Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) care
• Healthcare communication technology
• Patient and family engagement

Background:

• Coordinating family-centered rounds (FCR) in the NICU presents significant logistical challenges.
• Ensuring timely presence of nurses and families during patient rounds is crucial for effective care coordination.
• Current methods for synchronizing FCR often lead to missed opportunities for family and staff participation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a novel rounding software, Q-rounds, on nurse and family presence during FCR.
• To determine if real-time notifications and remote participation options could improve FCR attendance.
• To assess changes in rounding duration associated with the implementation of the new software.

Main Methods:

• An observational study was conducted on two NICU teams over six weeks, comparing pre- and post-implementation of the Q-rounds software.
• Metrics collected included nurse presence, family presence (in-person and remote), and duration of rounds.
• Statistical analysis utilized Chi-square and two-group t-tests to compare pre- and post-implementation data.

Main Results:

• The proportion of nurses present for the entire rounding discussion increased significantly from 18.8% to 58.2% (P < 0.001).
• Family presence during rounds more than doubled, rising from 20.0% to 43.0% (P < 0.001).
• Remote family participation increased substantially from 15.2% to 55.8% (P < 0.001), while average rounding duration remained unchanged (approx. 10.4 minutes).

Conclusions:

• The implementation of Q-rounds software was associated with a significant increase in both nurse and family presence during FCR.
• The technology facilitated greater family engagement, including remote participation, without prolonging the duration of patient rounds.
• This novel rounding software offers a promising solution to improve communication and participation in family-centered care within the NICU environment.