A Call Light Responsiveness Program.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Purposeful hourly rounding and information on whiteboards in patients' rooms have been known to reduce use of call lights. PROBLEM: Call light activation was higher than desired. METHODS: This continuous improvement initiative used retrospective data collection (pre-, early- and maintenance postintervention) to assess call light responsiveness. INTERVENTION A bundled purposeful hourly rounding approach was used. RESULTS: Call light frequency was higher in the early postintervention period than in the preintervention; however, there was no change in the frequency of call lights that extended beyond 5 minutes. In the maintenance postintervention period, compared with the pre- and early postintervention periods, call lights per patient/unit day and call lights extending beyond 5 minutes per patient/unit day decreased (all P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Activation of a bundled purposeful hourly rounding approach was associated with a decrease in all call lights and call lights extending beyond 5 minutes per patient/unit day.