SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Improving Communication at Pediatric Hospital Discharge: Implementation and Impact of a Standardized Template

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This project aimed to improve discharge communication for pediatric inpatients on a general medicine service by increasing the percentage of patients receiving comprehensive written discharge instructions from 16% to 50% by June 2024.<br /><br />The team identified key barriers, including limited resident time, workflow pressures, and communication challenges related to patient and family medical knowledge and language. To address these issues, they created a standardized discharge instruction template, or dot phrase, that included all five required discharge components. They also translated the instructions into Spanish, posted reminders in resident work areas, sent reminder emails to residents on the inpatient rotation, and incorporated the template into rotation instructions.<br /><br />The intervention was rolled out in phases from November 2023 through September 2024. During the baseline period of July to October 2023, only 16% of patients received comprehensive discharge instructions. After implementation, from November 2023 to June 2024, this increased to 77%, with an 80% template utilization rate. Improvement was sustained from July to September 2024, when 73% of patients still received comprehensive discharge instructions and template use rose to 86%.<br /><br />In addition, Press Ganey Child CAHPS scores showed improvement in discharge communication, suggesting a positive impact on patient/family experience.<br /><br />Overall, the standardized discharge template led to a substantial and sustained improvement in the quality and consistency of discharge instructions for pediatric patients.

Asset Subtitle

Anita Narkhede

Meta Tag

Author List Anita Narkhede, Anna Sizemore, Ashley M. Perry, Elizabeth Chiu, Melinda Murphy

Category Research

Concept Discharge Instruction Template

Concept Discharge Communication

Concept Quality Improvement

Concept Hospital Discharge

Concept Discharge Instruction

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization USF Health Morsani College of Medicine

Presenting Author Anita Narkhede

Track Quality Improvement

Keywords

pediatric discharge instructions

discharge communication

standardized template

resident workflow

patient family communication

Spanish translation

general medicine service

quality improvement

CAHPS scores

hospital discharge

Discharge Instruction Template

Discharge Communication

Quality Improvement

Hospital Discharge

Discharge Instruction