From the Guidelines
Optimal Rounding Strategies on Internal Medicine Units
Patient-centered care should be the primary focus when rounding on internal medicine units, involving patients in decision-making and respecting their preferences 1.
Key Components of Patient-Centered Rounding
- Introduction and Roles: Begin by introducing all team members, including medical students, residents, and attendings, and explaining their roles to the patient 1.
- Patient Presentation: Medical students should present the patient's case, highlighting key findings and concerns, followed by residents providing additional context and discussing treatment plans 1.
- Patient Preferences and Concerns: Attendings should oversee the discussion, ensure that the patient's preferences and concerns are addressed, and facilitate shared decision-making 1.
- Medication Management: Ensure all team members are aware of the patient's current medication list, including dosages and frequencies, and verify medications at each visit using a standardized medication reconciliation process 1.
Effective Communication and Collaboration
- Clear Communication: Use specific names, dosages, and frequencies when discussing medications, such as "The patient is currently taking metformin 500mg twice daily for diabetes management" 1.
- Collaborative Approach: Foster a collaborative environment among team members, including medical students, residents, and attendings, to ensure comprehensive care and respect for patient preferences 1.
- Patient Involvement: Whenever possible, involve adult patients or their surrogate decision-makers in rounds to promote patient-centered care and shared decision-making 1.
By prioritizing patient-centered care, respecting patient preferences, and promoting clear communication and collaboration among team members, internal medicine units can optimize rounding strategies to improve patient outcomes and satisfaction.
From the Research
Optimal Rounding Strategies
The optimal rounding strategies on internal medicine units involve considering patient preferences and the roles of medical students, residents, and attending physicians. Key aspects of effective rounding strategies include:
- Patient-centered care: Integrating patient preferences, values, and beliefs into health decision-making 2
- Communication: Effective communication between healthcare teams and patients is crucial for patient satisfaction and improved health outcomes 3, 4
- Team involvement: Involving nurses and other healthcare team members in rounding encounters can improve patient care and satisfaction 3, 4
- Standardized rounding practices: Implementing standardized rounding practices, such as pre-rounds huddles and bedside rounds, can improve patient satisfaction and efficiency 3
Roles of Medical Students, Residents, and Attending Physicians
The roles of medical students, residents, and attending physicians in rounding encounters are important for patient care and education. Key aspects include:
- Patient interaction: Modeling patient interaction behaviors, such as eye contact and active listening, is important for patient-centered care 4
- Education: Rounding encounters provide opportunities for medical students and residents to learn about patient care and communication skills 3, 4
- Leadership: Attending physicians play a crucial role in leading rounding encounters and ensuring that patient-centered care is provided 3, 4
Patient Preferences
Patient preferences are an important consideration in rounding strategies. Key aspects include:
- Patient empowerment: Empowering patients to participate in decision-making and care planning can improve health outcomes 2, 5
- Patient individuality: Considering individual patient needs and circumstances is important for patient-centered care 2, 5
- Communication: Effective communication with patients is crucial for understanding their preferences and needs 3, 4