Impact of multidisciplinary rounds for enhancing communication and decision making in the medical intensive care unit care for cardiac patients: A prospective interventional study
Christopher Mathew, Jitha Devan, Arathy Chandran A RObjectives
Effective communication and collaborative decision-making are critical in the management of critically ill cardiac patients in the medical intensive care unit (MICU). Evidence suggests that poor communication among healthcare teams can contribute to errors and suboptimal patient care outcomes. Fragmented communication among healthcare teams can result in delays in treatment, medical errors, and suboptimal patient outcomes. Structured multidisciplinary rounds (MDRs) have been identified as a promising approach to improving these aspects by fostering coordination and collaborative care. Evidence from previous studies highlights their benefits, such as reducing medical errors and enhancing patient safety. These findings are supported by guidelines that emphasize the importance of structured communication in critical care environments. This study aims to implement and evaluate the impact of structured MDRs on communication, decision making, and clinical outcomes in MICU patients with cardiac conditions at Dr. Moopens Medical College Hospital, Wayanad, India.
Material and Methods
A prospective interventional study was conducted over six months to compare outcomes before and after the implementation of structured MDRs. Metrics such as communication efficiency, team satisfaction, and clinical outcomes, including ICU length of stay and readmission rates, were analyzed.
Results
The introduction of structured MDRs significantly enhanced communication scores (4.1. vs. 3.2 on a 5-point Likert scale, p<0.01), reduced ICU length of stay (7.8 vs. 9.5 days, p=0.02), and decreased 30-day readmission rates (12% vs. 18%, p=0.03). Furthermore, healthcare team satisfaction scores improved significantly (4.4 vs. 3.5, p<0.01).
Conclusion
Structured MDRs were effective in improving communication, facilitating collaborative decision-making, and optimizing clinical outcomes. This approach is recommended for broader adoption in ICUs to enhance care for critically ill cardiac patients.