DOI: 10.1097/01.ccm.0000458311.38721.f1

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Issn Print: 0090-3493

Publication Date: 2014/12/01


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814: INTRA-TEAM COMMUNICATION OFTEN INTERRUPTS PATIENT CARE IN THE PEDIATRIC INTENSIVE CARE UNIT

Sherrill Gutierrez; Joanna Tylka; Adrian Zurca; Rhiannon Hickok; Christiane Corriveau

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Author Information: N/A, Washington, DC

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Excerpt

Learning Objectives: Effective communication within the medical team is as important as between physicians and patients. Physicians and nurses often rely on paging systems and wireless handheld phones to communicate. However, these devices may hamper physician workflow and disrupt patient care. We hypothesize that the implementation of an updated communication algorithm will decrease calls to ICU providers and decrease interruptions to patient care. Our goal is to investigate the call/paging burden in a pediatric intensive care unit (ICU), and to see if implementing an up to date communication algorithm will impact the number of calls or pages.
Methods: Pediatric ICU providers were asked to keep logs of all pages and calls on selected days over a 2 week period. Afterwards, an updated communication algorithm was distributed and discussed with the ICU nursing staff, which helped direct nurses as to which provider type to contact and how. Six weeks after distribution, communication logs were again collected.
Results: Prior to the updated algorithm being distributed, 83% of communication was via a phone call versus 17% via paging. 20% occurred during work rounds and 11% disrupted direct patient care. 82% of communications disrupted some form of patient care, of which 83% was via phone call. After the updated algorithm was distributed, 85% of communication was via a phone call. 16% occurred during work rounds and 16% interrupted direct patient care. 79% of all communication disrupted some form of patient care of which 84% were phone calls. While there was a decrease in phone calls and pages during work rounds, this was not statistically significant.
Conclusions: Most communication from nurses to providers occurred via phone call, and very often interrupted patient care. Implementing an updated communication algorithm in a pediatric ICU did not decrease interruptions to patient care. Future endeavors will include evaluating patient acuity and its effect on nurse adherence to the algorithm, as well as discussions with ICU nurses to identify potential barriers to appropriate algorithm use.

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