Research findings show that small unit-based care teams can increase the frequency and quality of communication among physicians and nurses, which could ultimately lead to improved patient safety, according to a study published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.
Resident-physician care teams were established based on specific inpatient units so that residents admitted and cared only for patients in their assigned unit. Main outcomes measured were physician and nurse self-reports of communication practices and frequency of pages residents received. As a means of comparison, researchers collected data before and two times after implementing unit-based teams.
Results showed physicians in unit-based teams were more likely to identify the nurse responsible for the patients with the most complex conditions. Physicians in unit-based teams were also more likely to communicate with nurse in person and to believe their patient care concerns were met. Similarly, nurses reported improvements in communication patterns. The mean number of pages per day to residents also decreased by 42.1 percent.
Read the study about unit-based care teams.
Related Articles on Patient Safety:
Parents' English Proficiency Linked to Length of Hospital Stay for Pediatric Patients
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CMS Discovers "Failures" at Parkland Memorial After Snap Investigation
Resident-physician care teams were established based on specific inpatient units so that residents admitted and cared only for patients in their assigned unit. Main outcomes measured were physician and nurse self-reports of communication practices and frequency of pages residents received. As a means of comparison, researchers collected data before and two times after implementing unit-based teams.
Results showed physicians in unit-based teams were more likely to identify the nurse responsible for the patients with the most complex conditions. Physicians in unit-based teams were also more likely to communicate with nurse in person and to believe their patient care concerns were met. Similarly, nurses reported improvements in communication patterns. The mean number of pages per day to residents also decreased by 42.1 percent.
Read the study about unit-based care teams.
Related Articles on Patient Safety:
Parents' English Proficiency Linked to Length of Hospital Stay for Pediatric Patients
Following Guidelines Reduces Patient Mortality After Heart Attack
CMS Discovers "Failures" at Parkland Memorial After Snap Investigation
