Skip to main content
AAPM&R Events Main banner
JFK Johnson
Icon Legend
This session is not in your schedule.
This session is in your schedule. Click again to remove it.
Presentation Icons
In-Person
In-Person
On Demand
On Demand
Live Stream
Live Stream
Invite Only
Invite Only
Ticketed
Ticketed
Coffee Break
Coffee Break
Meal
Meal
Reception
Reception
Back

Practice Management, Leadership, and Quality Improvement

FaceTime for long distance relationships: An observational study of in-person orientations’ efficacy on verbal handoff compliance over time

(Research Hub Theater) Facetime for Long Distance Relationships: An Observational Study of In-person Orientations’ Efficacy on Verbal Handoff Compliance over Time

Saturday, November 18, 2023
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM CT

    Primary Author(s)

  • Siulam C. Koo, DO

    Resident Physician
    New York University Grossman School of Medicine PM&R Program
    New York, New York

    • Co-Author(s)

  • Christopher K. Lee, DO (he/him/his)

    Resident Physician - PM&R
    New York University Grossman School of Medicine PM&R Program
    New York, New York

  • Jennifer Zhu, DO

    Resident Physician
    New York University Grossman School of Medicine PM&R Program
    New York, New York

  • JL

    Jing Lin, MD

    Resident Physician
    New York University Grossman School of Medicine PM&R Program
    New York, New York

  • BI

    Brian Im, MD

    Physician
    New York University School of Medicine PM&R Program
    New York, New York

Background and/or Objectives: To test the hypothesis that implementing an in-person orientation prior to the start of an inpatient rotation improves workflow and eases the transition into an inpatient setting.

Design: Observational study.

Setting: Academic Center.

Participants: 12 PGY-2 and 12 PGY-3 rehabilitation residents.

Interventions: We provided orientations for PGY-2 and PGY-3 residents 1-3 days before starting an inpatient rotation, with instructions on roles and responsibilities. This was provided via a rotation guide and emails in 2020 and 2021, with the addition of an in-person orientation in 2022.

Main Outcome Measures: We assessed Verbal Handoff (VHO) compliance scores among PGY-2 and PGY-3 residents across three academic years (July-October 2020, 2021, 2022) and conducted a qualitative survey to determine their comfort level with various workflows, including escalation of care, medication reconciliation, and routine admission/discharge procedures. The VHO compliance score was defined as the percentage of discharges to skilled nursing facilities (SNF) for which residents provided a verbal handoff to a provider at the SNF.

Results: The Verbal Handoff (VHO) compliance rate among residents improved significantly over three academic years: from an average of 52% in 2020 to 57% in 2021, and 82% in 2022. Exact binomial tests indicated statistically significant differences in VHO compliance rates between 2020 and 2022 (p < 0.0001), as well as between 2021 and 2022 (p < 0.0001). Additionally, a survey of 16 residents showed an overall improvement in their comfort level with various workflows, with a preference for face-to-face orientation over reading documentation.

Conclusions: Inpatient rotations are demanding, with a steep learning curve. In response, we decided to implement an in-person orientation to prepare residents, and tracked VHO compliance (quantitative) and administered surveys (qualitative) to study its effects. We found that having orientations prior to starting an inpatient rotation has a significant impact on improving workflow, provider handoff compliance and overall sentiments of preparedness and productivity.