"Can you help me think this through?" How pediatric hospitalists learn from informal peer consultation.

Informal peer consultation (IPC), also called curbside consultation, is a common practice in medicine. Research has shown that physicians use IPC but how this learning occurs during the process has not been studied. This basic qualitative study describes how pediatric hospitalists learn during IPC, framed by Kolb's (2015) Experiential Learning Theory of Growth and Development. Eleven pediatric hospitalists were interviewed. Deidentified transcripts were coded for key themes using inductive methods. The main prompt for informal peer consultation was the perception of uncertainty. Three themes describe the learning process: "Eliciting Perspectives," "Thinking Aloud Together," and "Experiencing Validation. A fourth theme, "Acknowledging Value," described the importance of IPC for modeling how to manage uncertainty with patients' caregivers and medical trainees. By describing the learning process, the results have implications for physicians who engage in IPC and may inform faculty-level professional development initiatives to improve the IPC process.

Care Models and Discharge Services for Children With Medical Complexity.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Children with medical complexity (CMC) are high health care utilizers prompting hospitals to implement care models focused on this population, yet practices have not been evaluated on a national level. Our objective with this study is to describe the presence and structure of care models and the use of discharge services for CMC admitted to freestanding children's hospitals across the nation. METHODS: We distributed an electronic survey to 48 hospitals within the Pediatric Health Information System exploring the availability of care models and discharge services for CMC. Care models were grouped by type and number present at each institution. Discharge services were grouped by low (never, rarely), medium (sometimes), and high (most of the time, always) frequency use. RESULTS: Of 48 eligible hospitals, 33 completed the survey (69%). There were no significant differences between responders and non-responders for both hospital and patient characteristics. Most participants identified an outpatient care model (67%), whereas 21% had no dedicated care model for CMC in the inpatient or outpatient setting. High-frequency discharge services included durable medical equipment delivery, medication delivery, and communication with outpatient provider before discharge. Low-frequency discharge services included the use of a structured handoff tool for outpatient communication, personalized access plans, inpatient team follow-up with family after discharge, and the use of discharge checklists. CONCLUSIONS: Children's hospitals vary largely in care model structure and discharge services. Future work is needed to evaluate the associations between care models and discharge services for CMC with various health care outcomes.

Incorporating Community Member Perspectives to Inform a Resident Health Equity Curriculum.

Background There are few published resources to guide content of health disparities curricula. To train physicians to effectively address disparities, the needs and expectations of the local community need to be considered. Objective To obtain community insight about factors influencing health disparities and important components of a health disparities curriculum for residents. Methods This qualitative study consisted of 5 focus groups held in 2019; 4 included local community members, and the fifth was of leaders from local agencies serving these communities. Each focus group was professionally led and transcribed. Using an inductive approach to content analysis, the authors created codes from the transcripts. They then categorized the codes to support the development of themes. Results Sixty-five community members participated in the 4 focus groups, and 10 community leaders participated in the fifth. Overall, 6 themes emerged from the data: (1) A healthy community is a community with access; (2) system-inflicted stress weighs heavily on health; (3) communities have internal strengths; (4) racism affects care delivery; (5) respectful bedside manner is necessary to build trust and better health outcomes; and (6) experience the community to learn and appreciate strengths and needs. Conclusions This study illustrates that the community's input provides insights on what to include in a health disparities curriculum and serves as a model for incorporation of the community perspective in curriculum development.

Social Determinants of Health ICD-10 Code Use in Inpatient Pediatrics.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The American Academy of Pediatrics endorses screening for social determinants of health (SDOH) and providing families resources for unmet needs. A systematic response to unmet needs requires identification, documentation, and provision of resources. Our goal was to compare SDOH International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10), code use for pediatric inpatients after policy changes in 2018 permitting coding by nonphysicians. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study comparing data from the 2016 and 2019 Kid's Inpatient Database for patients <21 years old. The primary variable was the presence of an SDOH code, defined as an ICD-10 Z-code (Z55-Z65) or 1 of 13 ICD-10 codes recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics. We compared overall SDOH code usage between 2016 and 2019, and by Z-code category, demographic, clinical, and hospital characteristics using χ2 tests and odds ratios. Using logistic regression, we examined hospital-level characteristics for hospitals with >5% of discharges with an SDOH code. RESULTS: SDOH code documentation increased from 1.4% in 2016 to 1.9% in 2019 (P < .001), with no notable differences based on Z-code category. In both periods, SDOH code documentation was more common in adolescents, Native Americans, and patients with mental health diagnoses. The number of all hospitals using any SDOH code increased nearly 8% between 2016 and 2019. CONCLUSIONS: ICD-10 codes remain underused to track SDOH needs within the inpatient pediatric setting. Future research should explore whether SDOH code documentation is associated with increased response to unmet social needs and, if so, how to improve use of SDOH codes by all providers.

Parent Preferences on Screening for Social Determinants of Health in Hospitalized Children.

BACKGROUND: Although there has been much research on screening families for social determinants of health (SDOH) at pediatric outpatient visits, there is little data on family preferences about SDOH screening during hospitalization. This is of critical importance because unmet SDOH, also known as social needs, are associated with poor health outcomes. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to assess caregiver preferences for social needs screening in the inpatient pediatric setting. METHODS: We surveyed a sample of caregivers of admitted patients at our freestanding tertiary-care children's hospital between March 2021 and January 2022. Caregivers were surveyed with respect to the importance of screening, their comfort with screening, and which domains were felt to be acceptable for screening. RESULTS: We enrolled 160 caregivers. More than 60% of caregivers were comfortable being screened for each of the social needs listed. Between 40% and 50% found screening acceptable, even if resources were unavailable. Forty-five percent preferred to be screened in private, 9% preferred to be screened by a health care team member, and 37% were comfortable being screened either in private or with a health care team member. Electronic screening was the most preferred modality (44%), and if by a health care team member, social workers were preferred over others. CONCLUSIONS: Many caregivers reported the acceptance of and comfort with social needs screening in the inpatient setting. Our findings may help inform future hospital-wide social needs screening efforts.

Assessing trainee critical thinking skills using a novel interactive online learning tool.

BACKGROUND: Critical thinking is essential for the accurate diagnosis and management of patients. It is correlated with academic success. OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to design a novel tool for interactive online learning to improve knowledge and to assess trainees' critical thinking skills using the framework of the American Philosophical Association (APA). METHODS: Residents, fellows and students participated in an online, self-directed case-based vignette activity to learn malaria diagnosis and management. Pre and post-tests with multiple choice and open-ended case-based questions assessed knowledge and critical thinking. Comparison between pre and post-test scores across subgroups were performed using paired t-tests or one-way ANOVA. RESULTS: Between 4 April 2017 to 14 July 2019, 62 of 75 (82%) eligible subjects completed both the pre and the post-test. Improved post-test scores occurred in 90% of medical students, p=0.001, 77% of residents, p<0.001, 60% of fellows, p=0.72 and 75% of trainees overall, p=<0.001. Fellows had higher pre-test scores than students or residents but there was no difference by level of training on the post-test. CONCLUSIONS: This interactive online learning activity effectively imparted medical knowledge and improved trainee responses to questions requiring critical thinking. To our knowledge, this is the first time the APA's critical thinking framework has been incorporated into interactive online learning and assessment of critical thinking skills in medical trainees. We applied this innovation specifically in global health education, but there is obvious potential to expand it to a wide variety of areas of clinical training.

Social Risks and Health Care Utilization Among a National Sample of Children With Asthma.

OBJECTIVES: Prior studies using single-center populations have established associations between social risks and health care utilization among children with asthma. We aimed to evaluate associations between social risks and health care utilization among a nationally representative sample of children with asthma. STUDY DESIGN: In this cross-sectional study, we utilized the 2018-2019 National Survey of Children's Health to identify children 2 to 17 years old with asthma. Using the Healthy People (HP) 2030 social determinants of health (SDOH) framework, we identified 31 survey items assessing 18 caregiver-identified social risks as exposure variables and classified them into the 5 HP SDOH domains (Economy, Education, Health care, Community, and Environment). Primary outcome was caregiver-reported health care utilization. Associations between individual social risks and total number of SDOH domains experienced with health care utilization were assessed. RESULTS: The weighted study population included 8.05 million children, 96% of whom reported ≥1 social risk. Fourteen social risks, spanning all 5 SDOH domains, were significantly associated with increased health care utilization. The 3 risks with the highest adjusted odds ratios (aOR) of health care utilization included: experiencing discrimination (aOR 3.26 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.75, 6.08]); receiving free/reduced lunch (aOR 2.16, [95% CI 1.57, 2.98]); and being a victim of violence (aOR 2.11, [95% CI 1.11, 4]). Children with risks across more SDOH domains reported significantly higher health care utilization. CONCLUSIONS: Among our national population of children with asthma, social risks are prevalent and associated with increased health care utilization, highlighting their potential contribution to pediatric asthma morbidity.

Development and Implementation of a Peer Curbside Consult Service for Pediatric Hospitalists.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the development and implementation of a Peer Curbside Consult Service (PCCS) for a pediatric hospital medicine (PHM) division. METHODS: We developed a pilot intervention with hospitalists at a freestanding children's hospital to provide peer consultation services for challenging clinical cases. Postconsultation surveys collected from both the requesting and consulting hospitalists provided feedback about the program. The 12-point Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR) checklist is used to describe the process for program creation and implementation. RESULTS: The PCCS has provided 60 consultations in the first 2 years since implementation in April 2020 and supports a large PHM division with >75 members who practice at a tertiary care, freestanding children's hospital and 7 affiliate sites. Hospitalists request peer consultation for challenging clinical cases. The consultations were typically conducted in person or via telephone. Currently, 11 PHM faculty members within the division volunteer as consultants, with 2 assigned per week. Electronic postconsultation experience surveys were received from 70% of requesting and 89% of consultant hospitalists. We also provide preliminary data from this pilot intervention in the Supplemental Information. CONCLUSIONS: We successfully established a peer consult service that provided just-in-time clinical decision support across the various practice sites. Through transparent reporting using the TIDieR checklist, other divisions may be able to replicate and adapt their own peer consult program.

"Sick or not sick?" A mixed methods study evaluating the rapid determination of illness severity in a pediatric emergency department.

OBJECTIVES: Experienced physicians must rapidly identify ill pediatric patients. We evaluated the ability of an illness rating score (IRS) to predict admission to a pediatric hospital and explored the underlying clinical reasoning of the gestalt assessment of illness. METHODS: We used mixed-methods to study pediatric emergency medicine physicians at an academic children's hospital emergency department (ED). Physicians rated patients' illness severity with the IRS, anchored by 0 (totally well) and 10 (critically ill), and shared their rationale with concurrent think-aloud responses. The association between IRS and need for hospitalization, respiratory support, parenteral antibiotics, and resuscitative intravenous (IV) fluids were analyzed with mixed effects linear regression. Area under the curve (AUC) receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve and test characteristics at different cut-points were calculated for IRS as a predictor of admission. Think-aloud responses were qualitatively analyzed via inductive process. RESULTS: A total of 141 IRS were analyzed (mean 3.56, SD 2.30, range 0-9). Mean IRS were significantly higher for patients requiring admission (4.32 vs. 3.13, p<0.001), respiratory support (6.15 vs. 3.98, p = 0.033), IV fluids (4.53 vs. 3.14, p < 0.001), and parenteral antibiotics (4.68 vs. 3.32, p = 0.009). AUC for IRS as a predictor of admission was 0.635 (95% CI: 0.534-0.737). Analysis of 95 think-aloud responses yielded eight categories that describe the underlying clinical reasoning. CONCLUSIONS: Rapid assessments as captured by the IRS differentiated pediatric patients who required admission and medical interventions. Think-aloud responses for the rationale for rapid assessments may form the basis for teaching the skill of identifying ill pediatric patients.

Pediatric Hospitalist Resuscitation Skills Refresher Training With Pauses for Deliberate Practice.

Introduction Pediatric hospitalists are expected to lead resuscitative efforts for cardiopulmonary arrests, but the infrequency of these events and pediatric advanced life support (PALS) re-certifications are insufficient to maintain skill proficiency.We created a novel resuscitation refresher curriculum for pediatric hospitalists with strategic pauses during simulations for expert and peer coaching of procedural skills. Methods In a tertiary care academic pediatric hospital between September 2018 to June 2019, pediatric hospitalists and fellows voluntarily participated in a series of three quarterly two-hour training sessions taught by expert peer facilitators. Sessions focused on the thirty-second rapid cardiopulmonary assessment and each of the pediatric advanced life support (PALS) algorithms. Scenarios were strategically paused to practice critical hands-on skills. Cases centered on the themes of shock, respiratory, and cardiac emergencies and took place in a high-fidelity simulation lab requiring a technician and expert peer facilitator. Participants anonymously completed Likert scale-based evaluations after each session and again at the end of the year that focused on participants' own perceived change in their comfort levels in performing various resuscitation skills and in knowing basic resuscitation steps. As part of our institutional and personal assessment of the curriculum, an end-of-year survey additionally asked participants to reflect on the overall simulation curriculum and resultant changes in their clinical practice. Results Comfort in all skills practiced across the three sessions increased. The end-of-year survey showed a significant rise in comfort above baseline but some decrements when compared to that immediately post-training. Ninety-six percent of pediatric hospitalists rated the overall quality of the training "better" or "much better" than other resuscitation training (including PALS classes and traditional simulations with skills training after the scenario). The overall effect of the curriculum on perceived knowledge, skills, and confidence levels was significant (p <0.0001). Conclusion Serial resuscitation skills refreshers with expert peer coaching and strategic pauses for hands-on skills practice can result in significant improvements in perceived knowledge and comfort with skill performance as well as the leadership role among pediatric hospitalists.

Medical student perspectives on conducting patient experience debrief interviews with hospitalized children and their families.

PURPOSE: To explore how medical students completing a pediatric clerkship viewed the benefits and barriers of debrief interviews with hospitalized patients and families. METHODS: In this study, focus groups were conducted with pediatric clerkship students after completion of a debrief interview. The constant comparative method was used with Mezirow's transformative learning theory as a lens to explore perceptions of the benefits and challenges of performing the interview. RESULTS: Focus groups revealed five benefits and two challenges. The benefits were that the debrief interviews helped students (1) humanize patients and appreciate social and environmental influences on patient health, (2) assess caregiver/patient understanding about care to correct misunderstandings, (3) actively involve caregivers/patients in treatment plan development, (4) engage patients in active expression of questions/concerns, and (5) recognize the value of their own role on the healthcare team. The challenges were that students felt (1) a lack of knowledge to answer caregivers'/patients' questions about diagnoses and (2) discomfort responding to caregiver/patient frustration, anxiety, or sadness. Student feedback on feasibility and implementation led to guidelines for selecting patients and conducting small group discussions after the debrief interviews. CONCLUSIONS: Debrief interviews offer a unique approach for learners to explore patient perspectives during hospitalization through direct patient engagement and dialogue, contributing to professional development, empathy, and potentially more positive patient care experiences.

Engagement and Leadership in Firearm-Related Violence Prevention: The Role of the Pediatric Hospitalist.

Gun violence is a US public health crisis. Approximately 7000 children are hospitalized each year because of firearm-related injuries. As pediatric hospitalists, we are poised to address this crisis, whether we care directly for patients who are victims of gun violence. In this article, we aim to provide practical tools and opportunities for pediatric hospitalists to address the epidemic of gun safety and gun violence prevention, including specifics related to the inpatient setting. We provide a framework to act within 4 domains: clinical care, advocacy, education and research.

Barriers to Firearm Injury Research.

INTRODUCTION: Firearm injuries and motor vehicle injuries are 2 leading causes of fatal injury in the U.S., each accounting for approximately 35,000 deaths annually. Research on firearm injuries is under-represented compared with research on motor vehicle collisions. This study seeks to identify perceived barriers to firearm injury research versus motor vehicle injury research. METHODS: This was a mixed-methods survey of corresponding authors of a minimum of 1 study, archived in PubMed, related to firearm injury or motor vehicle injury between 2014 and 2018. Analyses were performed in 2019. Electronic surveys included both closed- and open-ended questions to assess barriers to research. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify differences in perceptions to barriers between the 2 groups. Qualitative analysis of free-text responses was performed through inductive derivation of themes. RESULTS: Surveys were distributed to 113 firearm injury researchers (42% response rate) and 241 motor vehicle injury researchers (31.5% response rate). After adjustment, firearm injury researchers were less likely to cite institutional support (AOR=0.3, 95% CI=0.1, 0.8) as a factor contributing to their success, than motor vehicle injury researchers. Firearm injury researchers were more likely to report fear of personal threats (AOR=10.4, 95% CI=2.4, 44.4) and experiencing personal threats (AOR=16.1, 95% CI=1.6, 165.4). Thematic analysis revealed 4 themes: career, political, funding, and harassment. CONCLUSIONS: When compared with motor vehicle injury researchers, firearm injury researchers are significantly more likely to report limited support and threats to personal safety as barriers to research. Further research to understand the impact of these barriers and methods to overcome them is needed.

Screening for Social Determinants of Health in Hospitalized Children.

OBJECTIVES: Outpatient screening for social determinants of health (SDH) improves patient access to resources. However, no studies have examined if and how inpatient pediatric providers perform SDH screening. We aimed to identify inpatient pediatric provider screening practices for SDH, barriers to screening, and the acceptability of screening for hospitalized patients. METHODS: We conducted a multicenter descriptive study at 4 children's hospitals surveying inpatient hospitalists and nurses on the general wards about their SDH screening practices. A survey instrument was developed on the basis of literature pertaining to SDH, content expert review, cognitive interviews, and survey piloting. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses are reported. RESULTS: Results from 146 hospitalists and 227 nurses were analyzed (58% and 26% response rate, respectively). Twenty-nine percent of hospitalists and 41% of nurses reported screening for ≥1 SDH frequently or with every hospitalized patient. Only 26% of hospitalists reported consistently communicating SDH needs with primary care providers. Most respondents (97% of hospitalists and 65% of nurses) reported they do not use a specific screening tool, and only 34% of hospitalists and 32% of nurses reported feeling competent screening for SDH. Lack of time, resources, and a standardized inpatient screening tool were reported as barriers to screening. CONCLUSIONS: Hospitalization provides an opportunity for SDH screening and connecting patients to resources; however, a minority of pediatric providers currently report screening. Professional development activities training inpatient providers in SDH screening, using a screening instrument, and communicating identified needs to primary care providers may improve the effectiveness of SDH screening in the hospital.

Pediatric Resident Training in the Community Hospital Setting: A Survey of Program Directors.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The role of a hospitalist differs in a community hospital (CH) compared to a university/children's hospital. Residents are required to practice in a variety of relevant clinical settings, but little is known about current trends regarding pediatric resident training in different hospital settings. This study explores CH rotations including their value for resident training, characteristics, benefits, and drawbacks. This study also seeks to define "community hospital." METHODS: Authors conducted an online cross-sectional survey of pediatric residency program directors distributed by the Association of Pediatric Program Directors. The survey was developed and revised based on review of the literature and iterative input from experts in pediatric resident training and CH medicine. It assessed residency program demographics, availability of CH rotations, value of CH rotations, and their characteristics including benefits and drawbacks. RESULTS: Response rate was 56%. CH rotations were required at 24% of residency programs, available as an elective at 46% of programs, and unavailable at 48% of programs. Residency program directors viewed these rotations as valuable for resident training. CH rotations were found to have multiple benefits and drawbacks. Definitions of "community hospital" varied and can be categorized according to positive or negative characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Resident rotations at a CH provide valuable learning opportunities with multiple potential benefits that should be weighed against drawbacks in the context of a residency program's curriculum. There are many characteristics that potentially distinguish CH from university/children's hospitals.

The Patient Experience Debrief Interview: How Conversations With Hospitalized Families Influence Medical Student Learning and Reflection.

PURPOSE: To determine the effect of patient debrief interviews on pediatric clerkship student depth of reflection and learning. METHOD: The authors conducted a multi-institutional, mixed-methods, cluster randomized trial among pediatric clerkship students from May 2016 to February 2017. Intervention students completed a debrief interview with a patient-caregiver, followed by a written reflection on the experience. Control students completed a written reflection on a memorable patient encounter. Three blinded authors scored written reflections according to the 4-level REFLECT rubric to determine depth of reflection. Interrater reliability was examined using kappa. REFLECT scores were analyzed using a chi-square test; essays were analyzed using content analysis. RESULTS: Eighty percent of eligible students participated. One hundred eighty-nine essays (89 control, 100 intervention) were scored. Thirty-seven percent of the control group attained reflection and critical reflection, the 2 highest levels of reflection, compared with 71% of the intervention group; 2% of the control group attained critical reflection, the highest level, compared with 31% of the intervention group (χ(3, N = 189) = 33.9, P < .001). Seven themes were seen across both groups, 3 focused on physician practice and 4 focused on patients. Patient-centered themes were more common in the intervention group, whereas physician-focused themes were more common in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Patient debrief interviews offer a unique approach to deepen self-reflection through direct dialogue and exploration of patient-caregiver experiences during hospitalization.

Current Practices and Perspectives on Peer Observation and Feedback: A National Survey.

OBJECTIVE: Peer observation and feedback (POF) is the direct observation of an activity performed by a colleague followed by feedback with the goal of improved performance and professional development. Although well described in the education literature, the use of POF as a tool for development beyond teaching skills has not been explored. We aimed to characterize the practice of POF among pediatric hospitalists to explore the perceived benefits and barriers and to identify preferences regarding POF. METHODS: We developed a 14-item cross-sectional survey regarding divisional expectations, personal practice, perceived benefits and barriers, and preferences related to POF. We refined the survey based on expert feedback, cognitive interviews, and pilot testing, distributing the final survey to pediatric hospitalists at 12 institutions across the United States. RESULTS: Of 357 eligible participants, 198 (56%) responded, with 115 (58%) practicing in a freestanding children's hospital. Although 61% had participated in POF, less than one half (42%) reported divisional POF expectation. The most common perceived benefits of POF were identifying areas for improvement (94%) and learning about colleagues' teaching and clinical styles (94%). The greatest perceived barriers were time (51%) and discomfort with receiving feedback from peers (38%), although participation within a POF program reduced perceived barriers. Most (76%) desired formal POF programs focused on improving teaching skills (85%), clinical management (83%), and family-centered rounds (82%). CONCLUSIONS: Although the majority of faculty desired POF, developing a supportive environment and feasible program is challenging. This study provides considerations for improving and designing POF programs.

Kimura disease: a case report of a rare illness presenting as a common complaint.

Background Kimura is an uncommon inflammatory cause of pediatric head and neck masses due to eosinophilic infiltration of unclear etiology. Kimura can present similarly to infectious lymphadenitis, a much more common pediatric complaint. This case explores the role of anchoring bias when faced with an illness that at first appears to fit a common illness script that led to a delayed diagnosis. Case presentation A 7-year-old boy presented with acute onset of pre-auricular lymphadenopathy and fevers initially thought to be most consistent with infectious cervical lymphadenopathy. Despite treatment with broad spectrum antibiotics and multiple evaluations for underlying abscess requiring surgical drainage, the patient did not improve and remained febrile. Eventually, excisional lymph node biopsy was obtained and a pathologic diagnosis of Kimura disease was made. Conclusions This case illustrates an uncommon pediatric diagnosis which presented similarly to infectious cervical lymphadenitis without additional laboratory features consistent with Kimura. We highlight the role of anchoring bias and care fragmentation leading to repeat imaging and delayed biopsy in the eventual diagnosis of a rare illness.

Promoting interdisciplinary shared mental models.

BACKGROUND: Emergency Medicine (EM) and Hospital Medicine (HM) providers frequently interact when transitioning patients from the emergency department (ED) to the inpatient unit; however, there is infrequent collaboration between these subspecialties, and effective communication in EM-HM provider handover is an area for improvement. Shared mental models can enhance communication and safety. The purpose of this article is to describe the implementation of an interdisciplinary conference to allow providers to create shared mental models, and to assess the impact on attitudes and behaviours towards communication and collaboration outside the competing attentions of patient care environments. METHODS: The authors instituted a quarterly interactive case-based conference at an academic tertiary care children's hospital in which EM and HM subspecialty trainees co-facilitate evidence-based interactive presentations of clinical, diagnostic or management dilemmas. The conferences were evaluated via repeated cross-sectional surveys of EM and HM providers, as well as session evaluations. Surveys included multiple-choice, Likert-scale and free-text responses to assess the degree of interaction and collaboration between the divisions and provider attitudes toward changes in clinical practice. RESULTS: Assessment of the EM-HM collaborative conferences demonstrated trends towards increased interaction between divisions and increased discussion about management decisions among colleagues. Two-thirds of individuals who attended at least one conference felt that having attended an interdisciplinary conference influenced future management decisions. Effective communication in EM-HM provider handover is an area for improvement CONCLUSIONS: Interdisciplinary conferences provide a forum for cross-specialty communication to discuss management differences in a low-stress educational environment, and allow providers to develop shared mental models for effective, safe patient care.

Use of Computer Technology During Family-Centered Rounds: A Qualitative Study of Parent Perspectives.

OBJECTIVES: Physicians often use computer technologies to assist in work activities, including family-centered rounds (FCR), but little is known about the attitudes of families on the use of these technologies. We aimed to describe these perceptions on the presence and use of computer technologies during FCR. METHODS: We conducted observations of FCR from a parent's visual perspective to "see what they see." This was followed by in-depth interviews with the families of patients admitted to the hospitalist service at our institution to describe their experience with the use of computer technology by the medical team during FCR. RESULTS: From the analysis of 31 individual interview transcripts, our research team identified the following 4 themes: (1) technology serves a purpose during FCR; (2) to view data in real time; (3) do not lose the human connection; and (4) transparency is valued. Thirty-eight observations showed broad use of computer technologies by the medical team. Devices were used to provide data that would educate the family; however, the devices were often placed between the medical team and family, creating a physical barrier. CONCLUSIONS: Families recognized the benefit of computer technologies in the care of their child and would like greater sharing of information by the medical team. They insisted their child always be "placed first" and that the team be transparent with their use of technology. Computer technology may create possible obstructions and distractions to the medical team. As computer technologies become more commonplace in medicine, maintaining the essence of good patient-communication and family centered care is essential.