NET Rounding: A Standardized Rounding Intervention to Improve Rounding Efficiency and Optimize the Inpatient...

There is a scarcity of published best practices for efficient and effective hospital rounds. We introduced a standardized rounding intervention (NET Rounding, or Novel Rounding Practices, Shared Expectations, and Time Management) with the primary aims of improving rounding efficiency, reducing resident work-hour violations, and positively affecting clinician experience. Secondary aims included identifying efficient rounding practices and describing the intervention's impact on the attending and resident experience.

A standardized rounding intervention was implemented February-June 2022. Attendings and residents completed preintervention surveys October 2021-January 2022 and postintervention surveys immediately after their inpatient rotation during the intervention period. Survey data were compared using qualitative thematic analysis along with χ² and Fisher exact tests to assess intervention uptake, helpfulness of rounding strategies, and impact on education and efficiency.

A total of 171 attendings and 188 residents participated in the intervention. The survey response rates were 38% and 35%, respectively. Residents reported reduced rounding time and fewer work-hour violations with NET Rounding. There were perceived improvements in timeliness of patient care, shared expectations among team members, and overall inpatient clinician experience.

A novel rounding intervention improved perceived rounding efficiency, resident work hours, and overall inpatient experience for attendings and residents.