SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Accelerated Rounds: Model for Improving Interprofessional Plan of Care Rounds

Pdf Summary

The document describes an initiative to improve Interprofessional Plan of Care Rounds (POCR) at an academic medical center. POCR brings together physicians, nursing, case management, social work, physical therapy, pharmacy, and other services to review each patient’s goals, discharge plan, and care needs. Prior evidence shows that effective interdisciplinary rounds can reduce readmissions, mortality, and length of stay while improving quality and team satisfaction.<br /><br />A key problem at the medical center was geography: hospital medicine patients were spread across four to ten nursing units, making it difficult for hospitalists to attend more than one or two POCR sessions per day. To address this, the hospitalist team, hospital administration, and nursing leadership redesigned rounds into an “Accelerated Rounds” model.<br /><br />The improved model included empowered unit-based nursing leaders, structured leadership training, a required rounding checklist, maintained start times, continued attendance by interprofessional team members, and selection of units based on hospital medicine discharge volume. The team also used rapid-cycle PDSA methods and QR-code surveys to gather feedback.<br /><br />Results showed that rounds took about 18 minutes per provider and 45 minutes total. Units participating in Accelerated Rounds experienced a 4.5% reduction in average length of stay, equal to about 0.4 days. The percent of patients rounded on in person increased, and the process was well received by staff, with an increased sense of community among participants.<br /><br />Future improvement opportunities include better checklist adherence, stronger closed-loop assignment of barriers, increased use of the electronic medical record during rounds, and integration of additional quality metrics into POCR discussions.

Asset Subtitle

Michele Decastro

Meta Tag

Author List Michael Irwin, Michele Decastro

Category Innovations

Concept Interprofessional Plan of Care Rounds

Concept Accelerated Rounds

Concept Interprofessional Team

Concept Interdisciplinary Rounds

Concept Interprofessional Participation

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization Thomas Jefferson University

Presenting Author Michele Decastro

Track Communication

Keywords

interprofessional rounds

plan of care rounds

accelerated rounds

length of stay reduction

hospital medicine

discharge planning

PDSA cycle

nursing leadership

care coordination

quality improvement

Interprofessional Plan of Care Rounds

Accelerated Rounds

Interprofessional Team

Interdisciplinary Rounds

Interprofessional Participation