Standardizing nightly huddles with surgical residents and nurses to improve interdisciplinary communication and teamwork.

BACKGROUND: Clear and effective communication supports interdisciplinary teamwork and prevents adverse patient events. At our academic teaching hospital, poor communication between surgical residents and nurses was identified as a recurring problem, particularly on the inpatient general surgery night float rotation. METHODS: A standardized nightly huddle with surgical residents and nurses was developed and implemented as a resident-led quality improvement initiative on two acute care units. The huddle was evaluated with pre/post surveys of nurses and residents, as well as analysis of paging volume and rapid response events. RESULTS: Nightly huddles significantly improved nurses' perception of interdisciplinary teamwork and communication (p < 0.00005). With nightly huddles, significantly more nurses were able to identify and name the on-duty night float resident at the end of a 4-week rotation (p < 0.00005). Nurses perceived a positive impact on patient care and work environment. There were no changes in the number of nighttime pages or rapid responses. CONCLUSION: With night float rotations becoming a standard part of residency training, standardized huddles can enhance nighttime collaboration between residents and nurses.

Zoledronic acid versus alendronate for the prevention of bone loss after heart or liver transplantation.

CONTEXT: The first year after transplantation is characterized by rapid bone loss. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare zoledronic acid (zoledronate) and alendronate for prevention of transplantation bone loss. DESIGN AND SETTING: A randomized clinical trial was conducted at a transplantation center. PATIENTS: The study included 84 adults undergoing heart or liver transplantation and a concurrently transplanted, nonrandomized reference group of 27 adults with T scores greater than -1.5. INTERVENTIONS: Alendronate (70 mg weekly for 12 months) or one 5-mg infusion of zoledronate were both initiated 26 ± 8 d after transplantation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was total hip bone mineral density (BMD) 1 yr after transplantation. Secondary outcomes included femoral neck and lumbar spine BMD and serum C-telopeptide, a bone resorption marker. RESULTS: In the reference group, BMD declined at the spine and hip (P < 0.001). In the randomized groups, hip BMD remained stable. Spine BMD increased in the zoledronate group and did not change in the alendronate group; at 12 months, the 2.2% difference between groups (95% confidence interval, 0.6 to 3.9%; P = 0.009) favored zoledronate. In heart transplant patients, spine BMD declined in the alendronate and increased in the zoledronate group (-3.0 vs. +1.6%, respectively; between-group difference, 4.2%; 95% confidence interval, 2.1 to 6.3%; P < 0.001). In liver transplant patients, spine BMD increased comparably in both groups. Twelve-month C-telopeptide was lower in the zoledronate group than in the alendronate group (79 vs. 49%; P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: One 5-mg infusion of zoledronate and weekly alendronate prevent bone loss at the hip and, in liver transplant patients, increase spine BMD. In heart transplant patients, spine bone BMD remained stable with zoledronate but decreased with alendronate.

A randomized trial of peer coach and office staff support to reduce coronary heart disease risk in African-Americans with uncontrolled hypertension.

OBJECTIVE: Adopting features of the Chronic Care Model may reduce coronary heart disease risk and blood pressure in vulnerable populations. We evaluated a peer and practice team intervention on reduction in 4-year coronary heart disease risk and systolic blood pressure. DESIGN AND SUBJECTS: A single blind, randomized, controlled trial in two adjacent urban university-affiliated primary care practices. Two hundred eighty African-American subjects aged 40 to 75 with uncontrolled hypertension. INTERVENTION: Three monthly calls from trained peer patients with well-controlled hypertension and, on alternate months, two practice staff visits to review a personalized 4-year heart disease risk calculator and slide shows about heart disease risks. All subjects received usual physician care and brochures about healthy cooking and heart disease. MAIN MEASURES: Change in 4-year coronary heart disease risk (primary) and change in systolic blood pressure, both assessed at 6 months. KEY RESULTS: At baseline, the 136 intervention and 144 control subjects' mean 4-year coronary heart disease risk did not differ (intervention=5.8 % and control=6.4 %, P=0.39), and their mean systolic blood pressure was the same (140.5 mmHg, p=0.83). Endpoint data for coronary heart disease were obtained for 69 % of intervention and 82 % of control subjects. After multiple imputation for missing endpoint data, the reduction in risk among all 280 subjects favored the intervention, but was not statistically significant (difference -0.73 %, 95 % confidence interval: -1.54 % to 0.09 %, p=0.08). Among the 247 subjects with a systolic blood pressure endpoint (85 % of intervention and 91 % of control subjects), more intervention than control subjects achieved a >5 mmHg reduction (61 % versus 45 %, respectively, p=0.01). After multiple imputation, the absolute reduction in systolic blood pressure was also greater for the intervention group (difference -6.47 mmHg, 95 % confidence interval: -10.69 to -2.25, P=0.003). One patient died in each study arm. CONCLUSIONS: Peer patient and office-based behavioral support for African-American patients with uncontrolled hypertension did not result in a significantly greater reduction in coronary heart disease risk but did significantly reduce systolic blood pressure.

Qualitative analysis of peer coaches' experiences with counseling African Americans about reducing heart disease risk.

BACKGROUND: Despite mounting evidence that peer coaches can make significant contributions to patient health, little is known about factors that must be addressed to engage and retain them in their role. OBJECTIVE: To identify motivators and barriers to serving as a peer coach. DESIGN: Open ended semi-structured interviews. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: In a randomized trial of peer support, patients with well controlled hypertension and good interpersonal skills were recruited and trained to serve as peer coaches for African-American patients from the same practices who had poorly controlled hypertension. Peer coaches spoke by telephone at least three times with their same sex patient-clients on alternate months during the 6-month intervention and counseled about medication adherence as well as other healthy lifestyles. KEY RESULTS: Of 15 trained peer coaches, ten were contacted and agreed to participate in the qualitative interview. Peer coaches had a mean age of 66 years, 50% were women, and 80% were African-American. Themes regarding favorable aspects of the peer coach experience included: meaning and satisfaction derived from contributing to community health and the personal emotional and physical benefits derived from serving as a peer coach. Negative aspects centered on: challenges in establishing the initial telephone contact and wanting more information about their patient-clients' personal health conditions and status. Peer coaches endorsed gender matching but were less clear about race-matching. CONCLUSIONS: Programs that utilize peer support to enhance positive health behaviors should recognize that a spirit of volunteerism motivates many successful peer coaches. Program planners should acknowledge the special characteristics required of successful peer coaches when selecting, motivating and training individuals for this role.