Structured interdisciplinary bedside rounds do not reduce length of stay or 28-day readmissions
Overview
In a study conducted at a university hospital in Sydney, the implementation of twice-weekly Structured Interdisciplinary Bedside Rounds (SIBR) did not significantly reduce the length of stay (LOS) or 28-day readmission rates among older adults hospitalized with acute illnesses.
Objectives
To evaluate the effects of twice-weekly Structured Interdisciplinary Bedside Rounds (SIBR) on length of stay (LOS) and 28-day readmission rates among older adults admitted to aged care wards.
Methods
The study was a before-after design involving 3,644 consecutive patients with a mean age of 83.8 years. The control group included patients discharged between January 1, 2013, and April 30, 2014, while the intervention group included patients discharged between July 1, 2014, and September 30, 2015. The intervention consisted of twice-weekly SIBR sessions on two aged care wards, attended by senior doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals. Data on demographics, medical diagnoses, and frailty were collected and analyzed.
Results
Length of Stay (LOS)
No significant difference in median LOS before and during SIBR (8 days [5–15] vs. 8 days [4–15], P = 0.51).
Adjusted hazard ratio for LOS with SIBR: 0.97 (95% CI = 0.90–1.05).
28-Day Readmission
No significant difference in readmission rates before and during SIBR (20.3% vs. 19.0%, P = 0.36).
Conclusion
Twice-weekly Structured Interdisciplinary Bedside Rounds (SIBR) did not reduce the length of stay or 28-day readmission rates among older adults in aged care wards. While SIBR aims to improve interprofessional communication, its impact on these specific outcomes was not observed in this study, suggesting that additional factors may influence the effectiveness of SIBR in reducing LOS and readmissions.
