Authors (including presenting author) :
Cheung GY, Chu YM, Jong CW, Ma KW, Tong KS, Yu YT
Affiliation :
Department of Medicine and Rehabilitation, Tung Wah Eastern Hospital
Keyword 1: :
Staff Proficiency
Keyword 2: :
Proactive Communication
Introduction :
Frequent staff rotations and new nurses often lead to inconsistent protocol adherence and unconfident patient/family communication, particularly regarding rehabilitation and discharge planning. To address this, a CQI program standardizes interactions and provides targeted training to enhance staff competence. The initiative aims to strengthen nurses’ confidence, streamline discharges, reduce hospital stays, and improve patient outcomes and satisfaction.
Objectives :
1. To enhance patient understanding of rehabilitation and post-discharge care. 2. To improve staff knowledge of ward protocols, operational procedures, and communication techniques related to rehabilitation and post-discharge care. 3. To develop a standardized communication kit for staff to enhance patient interactions. 4. To streamline the discharge process to reduce delay discharge and improve patient flow. 5. To assess patient satisfaction with standardized and proactive communication.
Methodology :
A standardized communication kit is introduced for nursing staff in the orthopedic rehabilitation unit to ensure consistent and effective communication with patients and families. The kit includes: • Approach techniques for discussing rehabilitation and post-discharge care, • Effective communication strategies, • Clear operational guidelines to monitor rehabilitation progress consistently. All nursing staff receive the kit along with briefings to ensure full understanding and proper implementation of the guidelines.
Result & Outcome :
A standardized communication kit was introduced in Oct. 2024, with 24 nurses attending the briefing. Post-implementation data showed significant improvements: • Staff Confidence & Satisfaction: 83% of staff felt more confident engaging with relatives, and 91% found the kit highly useful. • Reduced Length of Stay: Average stay decreased by 21% overall and 23.4% for Multi-disciplinary Care Plan (MCP) cases. • Patient & Family Satisfaction: Surveys revealed 98% satisfaction with communication, rehabilitation understanding, and post-discharge care, streamlining discharge and improving overall care. Conclusion: This CQI project has successfully enhanced staff proficiency in proactive communication, leading to improved discharge processes & increased satisfaction among patients and their families at the orthopedic rehabilitation unit.
