Physician/Nurse Rounds

Amidst the however-many-feet of snow today, the Anna Jaques Hospital team kept the hospital going strong for the community. I walked with Delia O'Connor, our CEO, around the hospital to visit each unit today. I was amazed by the nurses and physicians and staff who slept at the hospital last night or stayed in town in order to make sure they were available today to provide care. I am glad that I was able to make "rounds" today, as it really helped to emphasize how dedicated these folks are. The "Physician/Nurse Rounds" will help to emphasize to our patients and families the coordination of their care. When the physician comes to see the patient, he or she will notify the nurse and they will interview/examine the patient together. This ensures that plans of care will be communicated and consistent. If the nurse caring for the patient is busy with another of their patients, the charge nurse will perform this activity. The most common issue that I have seen at hospitals across the country is the effectiveness of communication, whether between physicians, nurses or patients and their families. Our caregivers are doing what they were trained to do, but in the hectic environment of the hospital, it occasionally is not communicated as effectively as any of us would like. These "rounds" should enhance our ability to achieve that goal. We had an interesting week, last week, with our triennial review by the Joint Commision on Hospital Accreditation. Certainly, we passed with flying colors. Tomorrow, I will describe some of what was involved.