Modern ward rounds: Good practice for multidisciplinary inpatient review (January 2021)

Summary

Ward rounds are the focal point for a hospital’s multidisciplinary teams to undertake assessments and care planning with their patients. Coordination of assessments, plans and communication is essential for effective and efficient care. 

However, the delivery of ward rounds is consistently constrained by the competing priorities of clinical staff. A number of factors contribute to this, including workforce gaps, inadequate planning, unwarranted variation in practice and an absence of training in the skills required to deliver complex multidisciplinary team care. This leads to frustration for staff and patients, and can lead to errors in care, longer stays in hospital and readmissions.

A new report from UK healthcare professional leaders including the Royal College of Physicians, and developed along with patients, sets out best practice for modern ward rounds.