Clinical Pediatrics: Open Access
Open Access

Abstract

Patient Room Whiteboard as an Effective Communication Tool: A Quality Improvement Project, Al Wakra Hospital - Qatar

Ghadeer Mustafa, Susan Abraham, Khalil Salameh, Almunzer Zakaria, Khulud Maghreby, Muna Atrash, Ayat Alsmadi, Mary Ann Tabios, Veronica Ferrer, Roshan Varghese, Sini Varghese, Cristell Nermal, Lorna Cynthia Lorenzo and Sara Kazkaz*

Background: The patient room whiteboard serves as an effective communication tool between the patient and the healthcare team. Effective communication is crucial for both patient safety and quality of care.

Aim: To improve patient provider communication with the use of the patient room whiteboard.

Objectives: To facilitate patient and family knowledge for the plan of care and provider identification, and to increase the staff compliance with the utilization of the patient room whiteboard.

Design and setting: This is a Quality Improvement (QI) project using the Model For Improvement (MFI). The implementation of change was facilitated by the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) methodology. The study has been conducted in 2015 in pediatric in-patient unit in a general hospital in Al Wakra, Qatar. Patient and staff indepth interviews and surveys were conducted.

Results: Provider identification of physicians and nurses increased from 45% to 100% and 60% to 100% respectively during 2015 and 2020. The percentage of patients’ awareness of their admission goal and estimated date of discharge increased from 58% in 2015 to 100% in 2020 and 68% in 2015 to 100% in 2020 respectively. Patients’ perception of the whiteboard was helpful throughout their admission and improved from 72% in 2015 to 100% in 2020. Nurse’s compliance increased from 40% in 2015 to 100% in 2020.

Conclusion: The patient room whiteboard promotes effective patient provider communication and improves patient awareness of their healthcare providers, estimated discharge date, and plan of care.

Published Date: 2023-01-31; Received Date: 2022-06-07