Development of a handoff continuity score to improve pediatric ICU physician schedule design for enhanced physician and patient continuity.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Few studies investigate the benefits of familiarity or continuity during physician-to-physician handoff of inpatients. Factors such as how recently physicians (MDs) have worked and successive days caring for patients increase continuity, and thus could lead to enhanced handoff efficiency. Evaluating the efficacy of MD scheduling to enhance continuity is currently subjective.

Methods

An MD group consisting of 9 attending physicians and 7 fellows redesigned its pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) coverage schedule with the goal of enhancing continuity of care. The attending PICU MDs were formally surveyed to rate the impact of the schedule change on continuity and efficiency (5 point Likert scale: 1 = worse, 3 = no change, 5 = better). A Handoff Continuity Score

SUBMITTER: Smalley HK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3334797 | biostudies-literature | 2011

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature