• Yuewei Wu-Fienberg, Mary K Henzel, Mary Ann Richmond, and Devra B Becker.
• a Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center , Cleveland , Ohio , USA.
• J Spinal Cord Med. 2019 Mar 1; 42 (2): 245-250.

Context/ObjectiveMultiple medical specialties are often involved in the management of patients with both spinal cord injuries (SCI) and pressure injuries (PIs), sometimes leading to inadequate communication. Our Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital has an interdisciplinary team for PI patients in the SCI unit. This team conducts monthly bedside rounds and journal clubs; there is no similar team for patients with PIs outside the SCI unit. This pilot study aims to determine whether such an interdisciplinary team improves care coordination among practitioners.DesignSurvey-based study.SettingVA hospital.ParticipantsHealthcare providers who participate in interdisciplinary SCI rounds and who also care for patients with PIs outside the SCI unit.InterventionsInterdisciplinary rounds, including monthly bedside rounds and journal clubs with variety of specialists take place within the SCI unit. There are no similar interdisciplinary rounds for patients with PIs outside of the SCI unit.Outcome MeasuresThe Relational Coordination (RC) survey is a validated tool for gauging team performance. Survey results quantified relational dynamics inside and outside the SCI unit across four communication domains (frequent communication, timely communication, accurate communication, and problem-solving communication) and three relationship domains (shared knowledge, mutual respect, and shared goals).ResultsInterdisciplinary rounds in the SCI unit was associated with significantly better RC with hospitalists, surgical specialists, infectious diseases, nursing, and pharmacy. This effect was primarily due to improvements in communication domains, without significant difference in relationship domains.ConclusionsInterdisciplinary rounds in the SCI unit significantly improves RC in the care of PI patients.

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