Virtual multidisciplinary rounds reduce length of stay

Virtual multidisciplinary rounds combined with other interventions can reduce patient length of stay and observation hours, according to a study. Published in the September issue of The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety, the study also found decreased variation among hospitalists and improved key stakeholder engagement can be achieved with virtual multidisciplinary rounds. Researchers at Yuma Regional Medical Center in Arizona established virtual multidisciplinary rounds via phone conference calls with hospitalists, case managers, the clinical documentation improvement team, physical and occupational therapy and nursing leaders. The rounds led to more than 60% of discharges below geometric mean length of stay compared to approximately 52% before the initiative. The hospital saved $6.7 million by eliminating 3,813 excess days in 10 months. (Joint Commission news release, 8/22/23)