A bit about me: Bedside boards to create a culture of patient‐centered care in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs)

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: This project assessed whether the introduction of personalized bedside boards containing nonmedical information about patients in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) help provide health care professionals (HCPs) better insight about each child's personal qualities and preferences and thereby help improve patient-centered care and patient safety. METHODS: Staff and parents of children in a PICU unit completed a questionnaire assessing how well HCPs knew their patients and their design preferences for the board. The questionnaire was completed before and after board introduction, and patient involvement was central to the design of the board. RESULTS: There was an improvement in all parameters assessed. Significant improvements include the perception of PICU as a welcoming environment, nurses' understanding about what comforts their patients, and doctors' ability to recognize their patients outside the hospital. Doctors and nurses felt they knew their patients better. Parents' views regarding whether HCPs know what comforts their child and would recognize them outside the hospital also improved. Feedback about board aesthetics and usefulness was positive. CONCLUSION: Personalized bedside boards significantly improved how well HCPs knew their patients across various elements. Patient-centered care and, in turn, patient safety in PICUs can be promoted by using personalized bedside boards containing nonmedical information to help HCPs understand their patients' individual needs and tailor their treatment.