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EVERY

day, around 10:30 a.m.,

employees, patients and visitors alike

will notice a sizable cohort of nurses,

doctors, pharmacists, dietitians,

physical therapists and discharge

planners gathering in patient rooms

on our Medical-Surgical Unit.

It’s called “Accountable Care

Rounding,” and the new model is

meant to improve patient care by

enhancing communication and

coordination between involved

practitioners and providers, and

with patients and their families.

Patient-centered care

“We think of the model as a

bubble,” says Rajiv Pant, MD,

Director of the Hospitalist Program,

who, along with William Latreille,

MD, Chief Medical Officer, and

Julie Marshall, Vice President of

Patient Care Services, spearheaded

the effort to bring Accountable Care

Rounding to UVM Health Network–

Alice Hyde Medical Center. “At the

center of the bubble is the patient

with their family and all their needs.

We wanted to bring the providers

and practitioners involved in their

care inside that bubble to talk

about patient needs, care plans and

discharge plans.”

Here in Malone, Accountable

Care Rounding, based on a model

developed by Emory University,

began small and has grown.

“We started with the doctor, nurses

and discharge planning,” Dr. Pant

explains. “Pharmacy came to visit

and see the model one day, and we

realized they had a lot to contribute,

so they joined the team. Our dietitian

came to observe one day, and the

same was true with her. She had

much to contribute, and patients had

many questions for her. It’s continued

to evolve as we’ve progressed.”

Teaming up for your health

Dr. Pant says that the team meets

with each patient, and often, with their

family only for a fewminutes, but the

conversations have a lasting impact.

“It gets all of us on the same page

and allows us to be responsive to

the patient’s needs,” he says. “For

example, if a patient is concerned

about the cost of a particular

prescribed medication, Pharmacy can

consult on less expensive alternatives

and the physician can determine

whether or not the change would be

appropriate. It means the patient is

receiving more comprehensive care.”

Patients and families report that

Accountable Care Rounding helps

them feel more connected with

their care plan, and the care team’s

increased exposure to the patient

contributes to that.

“I understand each patient’s case

and condition much better than I

would by reading about it in a chart,”

says Liz Cassini, Dietitian. “I used to

see my patients once in the morning.

Now I see them before, during and

sometimes after rounds. This gives

me more exposure to them and

I’m able to see the bigger picture in

terms of their needs and concerns.”

Improving care coordination

Michael Dufort, Pharmacy

Director, says Accountable Care

Rounding has given his department

the opportunity to be more directly

involved in patient care, as well as in

the care team.

“We’re interfacing directly with

physicians, RNs and patients,” he says.

“This results in quicker resolution

of problems, enhances patient safety

and improves patient care. Our staff

appreciates this opportunity and looks

forward to continued involvement.”

“This allows the patient and the

family to be part of the decision-

making process and become more

involved in their care,” says Jeanette

Messenger, Nurse Manager, Medical-

Surgical Unit. “We also discuss

any barriers to discharge to ensure

that the patient has a safe and

seamless discharge. It also allows

everyone involved in the patient’s

care to discuss issues efficiently with

everyone’s input.”

Improving patient care

Accountable Care Rounding unites your medical team for your health

STRENGTH IN NUMBERS: The team meets with a patient for their daily Accountable Care rounds.