Perspective from the Patient and Family Advisory Council: Working Together to Improve Patient Care and Experience

At Wilson Medical Center, our goal is to ensure that you and your family have the best possible experience from the moment you walk through our doors. We aim to provide the highest quality care while making sure our patients and their loved ones feel safe, engaged, and empowered to take an active role in their health. When you come through our doors, our team members make every effort to involve you and your family in your care, and one important way we do this is by practicing bedside shift reports. We firmly believe that frequent, clear communication is an important part of the care we provide here. 

What is a Bedside Shift Report? 
A bedside shift report is an effective method for transferring information from one provider to another, while also involving patients in discussions about their health, progress, and treatment plan. Instead of having private conversations outside a patient’s room, our providers exchange important information about a patient’s health and care plan while standing at the bedside. This practice helps ensure clear communication, reduce the risk of errors, and maintain consistency of care during shift changes.  

What’s In It for Me? 
Our patients and their families are strongly encouraged to participate in a bedside shift report. It provides an excellent opportunity for you to ask questions, voice concerns, and share any feedback. Plus, studies show that patients who get involved during bedside shift report typically have better health outcomes and a more positive hospital experience overall. 

How Can I Get Involved? 
We want you to feel comfortable speaking up and collaborating with your care team. Here are some simple ways you can do this during your or a loved one’s hospital stay: 

• Ask your nurse when bedside shift report takes place.
• If you prefer, you can ask your nurse to wake you up if you are sleeping so that you can participate.
• Ask your family to be with you during bedside shift report, when possible.
• Having loved ones present keeps them informed and helps ease the burden of sharing important information with them later.
• Listen closely to what the nurses report to each other about your condition, treatment, and progress.
• Ask the nurses to clarify anything that you do not understand.
• Ask what needs to happen before you are able to leave the hospital.
• Knowing these details can help you set recovery goals and stay focused on getting well.
• Ask your care team when they anticipate that you will be able to leave the hospital.
• Preparing to leave the hospital is very important. Make sure you have a clear understanding of your recovery plan and what you will need to do when you return home to ensure you stay well and out of the hospital. 

The bedside shift report is just one way Wilson Medical Center keeps our patients and their families at the center of care as we work to make our community healthier. We strongly encourage you to participate in this important practice at our hospital and take a stand for your health.