Perceptions on implementation of a new standardized reporting tool to support structured morning rounds: Recommendations for interprofessional teams and healthcare leaders.

Structured morning rounds have been used to improve communication, provide learning opportunities, and support patient care in various healthcare settings. The leadership team in an inner-city Inpatient Mental Health Unit identified a gap in the structure of morning rounds; to remedy this, a standardized reporting tool and structured morning rounding process were implemented. This short communication reports on an evaluation of staff...s perceptions on the outcomes of using a standardized reporting tool and structured rounding process to improve efficiency and communication regarding patient care among an interprofessional team. Feedback was provided on logistics, attendance, supporting factors that ensured ease of use for the new structure, and benefits of the program. While this evaluation focuses on the opinions of nurses, it serves as an example for leadership in various healthcare units on the benefits of a structured rounding program, and key factors that contribute to making the process successful. This short communication also provides an example for an efficient communication tool that can be adapted to meet the needs of various groups of healthcare disciplines.

Promoting Safety: Behavioural Emergency Response during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, patients with and without pre-existing mental health diagnoses will either be admitted to the hospital as patients under investigation for COVID-19 or patients positive for COVID-19. A safe and timely response is required for patients exhibiting escalating behaviours (e.g., responsive, agitated and/or aggressive behaviours) to prevent harm to the patient, nearby patients and staff. In this paper, we report on a new protocol that has been implemented throughout our institution to address Code White calls for escalating behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic. This procedure uses a least restraint-based philosophy for the management of an escalating situation, involves the use of an interprofessional team of healthcare providers (including mental health clinicians) and security team members and accounts for the need for personal protective equipment. We believe that other hospitals could benefit from knowing about this approach as a strategy to improve patient care and diminish disease transmission.