Save Physicians Time:
Got Chart?
Studer Group's 'Got Chart?' tool was first developed by Quint Studer almost 10 years ago during his days as COO of Holy Cross Hospital in Chicago. Since then, hundreds of organizations in our national learning lab are using it to realize substantial improvement in physician satisfaction.
The reason? One of the most frequent complaints by physicians is that nurses don't have the patient chart when they call. "Got Chart?" responds to that.
"I learned during focus groups with new nurses that their top fear about working at our hospital was physician communication," explains Annette Holst, an education specialist who conducts nursing orientation and staff development for Genesis Health System in Davenport, IA.
In fact, in a 2005 Report1, the American Association of Critical Care Nurses said that nurses' communication skills must be as proficient as their clinical skills, rating communication and collaboration as one of six essential standards for practitioners. AACN's recommendations came on the heels of another 2005 study, Silence Kills: The Seven Crucial Conversations for Healthcare2, which urges hospital administrators to create formal processes to ensure information sharing among the health care team.
At Genesis, Annette Holst piloted three nurse-physician communication tools and selected Studer Group's Got Chart? tool as the best way to reduce nurse anxiety and hardwire effective physician communication. "We joined forces to consolidate calls to physicians. 'Got Chart?' formalizes the communication process through critical thinking, and creates a comprehensive reporting tool," she says. "
So often the doctor needs additional information, such as whether a patient has allergies, before prescribing a therapy over the phone," adds Dr. Shauna Roberts, Medical Director of Genesis Heart Institute. Sometimes information relayed over the phone can be a determining factor in whether a physician decides to come back to the hospital. "The problem isn't always what it appears to be on the surface," she adds. "With the help of this checklist, nurses and physicians communicate more effectively. There are fewer frustrations. It saves time and perhaps most importantly, improves patient care."
Got Chart?
|
✓ |
Before you call, did you: |
|
Ensure you are calling the appropriate physician (primary, consulting?) |
|
Check: Are there standing orders to cover this situation? |
|
Review physician preferences for when and where to call? |
|
Check: Does anyone else need the physician? |
|
See and assess this patient yourself? |
|
Read the most recent MD progress notes and notes from the nurse who worked the prior shift? |
✓ |
When you call: |
|
Have at hand: chart, recent assessment (current and past lab results with times tests done), lists of meds, code status, and most recent vital signs. |
|
Enter the complete 7-digit phone number when paging. |
|
Identity yourself, the unit, the patient, room number, and the diagnosis. |
|
Be clear about the reason for the call. |
|
Document whom you spoke to; time of call; and summary of conversation. |
|
© Studer Group: |
1 AACN Standards for Establishing and Sustaining Healthy Work Environments, a report by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses, Jan. 2005.
2 Silence Kills: The Seven Crucial Conversations for Healthcare, a national study co-sponsored by AACN and VitalSmarts documenting the role of communication among 1700 nurses, physicians, clinical staff, and administrators in job satisfaction and retention.
Print