Improving Efficiency Using Electronic Medical Record Rounding Report & Sign-Out Report

• Published in: Journal of pediatric health care 2020-11, Vol.34 (6), p.535-541
• Main Authors: Casey, Meagan H., Turner, Barbara, Edwards, Laura, Williams, Melinda
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: efficiency; Electronic medical record utilization; neonatal intensive care unit; Nursing; sign-out report; standardized rounding report and handoff
• ISSN: 0891-5245; 1532-656X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pedhc.2020.06.001

Standardized rounding and sign-out reports can improve provider efficiency and satisfaction. The purpose of this quality improvement project was to evaluate implementing an electronic medical record-integrated neonatal intensive care unit-specific rounding report and sign-out report on provider efficiency and satisfaction. A pre- and post–quality improvement project was implemented to evaluate the effectiveness of standardized electronic rounding and sign-out reports on a 48-bed level-4 neonatal intensive care unit staffed daily by two neonatologists and four advanced practice providers. The electronic rounding and sign-out reports were implemented on 745 patient encounters. The process of using the electronic rounding report was found to be faster than the paper prerounding report. Completing the standardized sign-out report was faster than the previous method used. Improving efficiency is essential for optimizing patient care and improving provider satisfaction. Electronic rounding and standardized sign-out reports can improve efficiency and provider satisfaction.