Improving Inpatient Consult Communication Through a Standardized Tool

OBJECTIVES: To increase the number of essential consult elements (ECEs) included in initial inpatient consultation requests between pediatric residents and fellows through implementation a novel communication tool. METHODS: Literature review previous needs assessment were used to identify 4 specific ECEs. From February June 2018, audited verbal at medium-sized, quaternary care children’s hospital determine baseline percentage ECE components within consults. A tool containing all ECEs was then developed by using modified situation-background-assessment-recommendation (SBAR) format. The SBAR implemented over 3 plan-do-study-act cycles. Adherence SBAR, inclusion ECEs, question clarity tracked via audits requests. pre- postintervention survey examine perceived miscommunication patient errors overall satisfaction. RESULTS: median consults ≥3 increased from 50% preintervention 100% with increasing 52% 92% (P < .001). Overall perception frequency decreased (52% vs 18%; P .01), although there no significant change resident- or fellow-reported errors. maintained residents’ already high satisfaction (96% 92%; = .39) fellows’ (51% 91%; CONCLUSIONS: Implementation standardized resulted Use led greater clarity, miscommunication, improved