Improving Patient Safety Communication in Residency Programs by Incorporating Patient Safety Discussions Into Rounds.

Background: Engaging residents in patient safety and quality improvement initiatives is sometimes difficult. The primary goal of the current study was to develop a standardized learning experience designed to facilitate patient safety discussions during rounds.

Methods: Residents who were on inpatient rotations during a 2-month period in 2014 were exposed to patient safety discussions on rounds. Residents who were not on inpatient rotations served as a control group. Faculty received weekly text reminders with 3 questions designed to engage residents in patient safety discussions. Before and after the intervention, residents were asked to complete a modified Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture. Faculty members were asked to complete a brief survey designed by the study investigators.

Results: Of the 160 residents who participated in the study, 49 responded to both the preintervention and postintervention surveys (31%). Residents who participated in patient safety discussions during rounds reported higher frequencies of safety events reported compared to the control group (<0.05). Both groups of residents reported better communication (<0.01) and an increased number of safety events reported (<0.01) at the end of the intervention. Twenty-two faculty were surveyed, and 19 responded (86%). Most faculty felt incorporating patient safety discussions on rounds was constructive and that the residents were responsive. Few faculty members felt the patient safety discussions were burdensome.

Conclusion: Using weekly text reminders with 3 prompts to incorporate patient safety discussions into rounds was well received by faculty and residents and had an impact on communication and error reporting.