Optimising Ward Rounding in Emergency Care

This guide presents a structured approach to optimising ward rounding as part of the Timely Emergency Care Collaborative (TECC) initiative aimed at improving patient flow in emergency care settings. The TECC project, which involves multiple hospitals in Victoria, focuses on reducing delays for patients requiring emergency services by enhancing hospital-wide patient flow. The guide outlines key activities that can streamline discharge decision-making, such as implementing afternoon discharge planning huddles and optimising daily ward rounds. It emphasizes the importance of prioritising patients for discharge and progressing necessary discharge tasks during ward rounds. The document also introduces the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) framework for testing these change ideas, encouraging continuous improvement and adaptation of ward rounding practices. By following the recommendations in this guide, healthcare teams can effectively address the mismatch between emergency department admissions and inpatient discharges, ultimately leading to improved patient care and outcomes.