Purpose: To create and assess satisfaction with an electronic-medical-record (EMR) integrated communication system designed to optimize perioperative communication with families.
Methods: We built a tool in the EMR's intraoperative nursing navigation screen for sending customized or standardized text pages to families in English or Spanish. Preoperatively, families were given text pagers with instructions and a hospital map to facilitate leaving the waiting area. After 6 months, Press-Ganey™ data and internal surveys from randomly selected families, and all nurses and surgeons were analyzed for satisfaction and effectiveness.
Results: Press-Ganey™ data demonstrated 30% improvement in patient satisfaction (p < 0.05). Among families, > 90% indicated pagers were easy to use and provided the desired information during surgery. Of nurses, >90% found the system easy to use and believed it improved families' experience. All surgeons reported improved intraoperative communication and ease of finding families postoperatively.
Conclusion: Perioperative family communication via EMR-integrated text improves efficiency and family, nurse, and surgeon satisfaction.
Keywords: Electronic medical record; Patient satisfaction; Perioperative communication; Technology.
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