Improving Resident Communication

"We need to debunk this myth and explicitly instruct our residents about what we want and expect. Under the new paradigm, this accountability must include rapid and accurate transmittal of information with confidence on both the sending and receiving ends.

"The intervention put into place by Dr. Greenberg’s group did just that, laying out for trainees the patient events that should trigger a call to the attending. Interestingly, they reported that change in patient management, as a result of attending input, occurred in only 33% of cases in which the attending was called – a result suggesting that information transfer was merely that of the "FYI" variety. Yet in all instances, the attending wanted to be called.

"If the patient safety aspect of these communication triggers can be stressed, we can more effectively shape trainee behavior." ☐