WalkRounds

Frankel, A., Grille, S.R, Pittman, M., Thomas, E.J., Horowitz, L., Page, M. and Sexton, B. 2008. Revealing and resolving patient safety defects The impact of leadership walkrounds onfrontline caregiver assessments ofpatient safety. Health Services Research, 43(6), 2050-66. doi lO.llll/j.1475-6773.2008.00878.x. 

In a subsequent study, Frankel et al. (2008) administered the SAQ - a survey that is currently used in hospital settings throughout the world - before and after the introduction of rigorous WalkRounds in seven hospitals and one ambulatory... 

Frankel, A., Grillo, S.P., Baker, E.G., Huber, C.N., Abookiie, S., Grenham, M., Console, P, O Quiim, M., Thibault, G. and Gandhi, T.K. 2008. Patient Safety Leadership Walkrounds at Partners Healthcare Learning from implementation. Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety, 31, 423-37. 

Frankel, A.S. et al. 2008. Revealing and resolving patient safety defects The impact of leadership Walkrounds on frontline caregiver assessments of patient safety. Health Services Research, 43, 2050-66. 

Upon arrival on the unit, the WalkRounds team invites attending and resident physicians, the nurse manager, patient care assistants, pharmacists, and others from the unit to join the group. The team asks the nurse manager to identify one or two nurses to answer the following questions (Frankel and others, 2003, p. 18) ... 

What would make these executive WalkRounds more effective ... 

A frequent WalkRounds comment at BWH concerned the inability of staff members to find supply items needed for patient care. Some nurses thought they spent up to 30 percent of their time searching for equipment, a process that delayed patient care. Because the comment was frequent, and because there was some potential for harm to a patient, the problem was given a high priority score, and hospital resources were designated for an initiative around this problem. 

A key to the success of WalkRounds is that staff members feel safe sharing information. At BWH, discussion and analysis from WalkRounds are tied in with the hospital s peer review committee and therefore protected by the state s peer review statutes. A blameless reporting system also helps staff members feel safe discussing their experiences. 

Frankel, A., and others. Patient Safety Leadership WalkRounds . Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Safety, 2003, 29(1), 16-26. 

The WalkRounds questions listed on p. 19 are Joint Commission Resources Jt CommJ Qml Safe. Oakbrook Terrace, IL Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, 2003, 18. Reprinted with permission. 

Frankel, A., Graydon-Baker, E., Neppl, C., Simmonds, X, Gustafson, M. and Gandhi, T.K. (2003), Patient Safety Leadership WalkRounds, Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Safety, 2003, No. 29, 16-26,... 

It is good practice to carry out a prestart-up safety review, incorporating a comprehensive plant walkround and a review of the minutes of all previous safety reviews. 

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