Introduction/background: As healthcare evolves, so should the way healthcare professionals deliver care to focus on the needs of patients and family members. One of the ways to provide patient and family centered care (PFCC) is through effective communication between the healthcare professional, patient, and family member.
Method: We have developed a new communication tool called LADiBUG that addresses many of the communication gaps identified by patient feedback from Diagnostic Imaging (DI). A pilot project was conducted at a rural site that involved establishing baseline patient feedback, providing education to staff about LADiBUG and the importance of PFCC, and follow-up with post-intervention patient feedback and staff feedback on the communication tool.
Results/discussion: There were marked improvements in the areas such as patients being informed on how long the study would take (improved 61%), patients given direction about next steps and follow-up (improved 55%), and staff introducing themselves (improved 43%). Due to the success of the pilot project, LADiBUG has been approved for implementation within DI departments as an effective tool to provide PFCC. Reinforcement strategies such as staff meeting discussions and continued patient feedback surveys, will be important to ensure continued success of the communication tool. LADiBUG also has the potential to be used by any staff member and with any patient interaction.
Conclusion: The LADiBUG communication tool enables staff to provide more effective communication with patients, thereby improving the patient and family experience in DI. With continued staff education and department participation, LADiBUG will address communication gaps identified by patients and family members and further embed PFCC in DI.
Keywords: Communication; Patient care; Patient family centered care (PFCC).
Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Inc.