RESEARCH ARTICLE A Quality Improvement Project to Improve Family Recognition of Medical Team Member Roles Rebecca M. Hayes, MD, a Afton Wickline, MS-4, b Christina Hensley, MD, c Kelsey Cowen, MS-2, b Ashley Jessie, MD, a Melanie Akers, MSN RN NE-BC, d Jenna Dolan, MD, c Audra Pritt, MD, c Shea Goodrich, MD, c Kelly O’Neill, BSN RNC, d Susan L. Flesher, MD c ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have shown that inpatients and families in academic settings have a limited ability to recall either their medical team members or the roles of those members. This is an important issue for patient and family satisfaction as well as patient safety. The objective of this study was to increase families’ recognition of medical team members’ roles. METHODS: We established a multidisciplinary quality improvement leadership team, measured family recognition of medical team members and their roles, and conducted 2 PDSA (Plan-Do- Study-Act) cycles. The first intervention was standardization of the content and delivery of our verbal team introductions to ensure inclusion of essential elements and family engagement. The second intervention was addition of an informational white board in each patient room. The prospective study included 105 families in the preintervention phase, 103 post-PDSA cycle 1, and 92 post-PDSA cycle 2. RESULTS: After conduction of 2 PDSA cycles, the recognition of the attending role increased from 49% to 87% (P 5 .000), the resident role from 39% to 73% (P 5 .000), and the medical student from 75% to 89% (P 5 .038). CONCLUSIONS: The multidisciplinary quality improvement model was effective in improving family recognition of the roles of attending physicians, resident physicians, and medical students. Consistent attention to engaging the families and explaining our roles as well as providing informational white boards are effective interventions to facilitate this process. a Departments of Internal Medicine-Pediatrics, and c Pediatrics, Joan C. Edwards Marshall University School of Medicine, Huntington, West Virginia; b Joan C. Edwards Marshall University School of Medicine, Huntington, West Virginia; and d Pedatric Unit, Hoops Family Children’ s Hospital at Cabell Huntington Hospital, Huntington, West Virginia www.hospitalpediatrics.org DOI:10.1542/hpeds.2014-0235 Copyright © 2015 by the American Academy of Pediatrics Address Correspondence to Rebecca M. Hayes, MD, Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Byrd Clinical Center, 1249 15th St, Suite 2055, Huntington, WV 25701. E-mail: hayes79@marshall.edu HOSPITAL PEDIATRICS (ISSN Numbers: Print, 2154-1663; Online, 2154-1671). FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE: The authors have indicated they have no financial relationships relevant to this article to disclose. FUNDING: No external funding. POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST: The authors have indicated they have no potential conflicts of interest to disclose. 480 HAYES et al by guest on October 25, 2017 http://hosppeds.aappublications.org/ Downloaded from