Improving patient communication and implementing the I CARE values has increased patient satisfaction at University Campus. The team has initiated the following strategies: AIDET, plan of care on the whiteboard, teaching the patients about their medications and the use of bedside report which involves including the patient in the transition-of-care conversation. The bedside report helps to clarify information that may not have been accurately communicated and engages the patient and family in the plan of care.
“Engaging the patients in their care while in the ED facilitates their follow through with the discharge plan. It is exciting to have the physicians work with us on the whiteboard communication with patients as we find that it is also helping us with our inter-professional communication,” said Angela Westergard, RN, MSN, MBA, CEN. “We are encouraging each other in the I CARE values. Remember that little things mean a lot: say hello and thank you.”