Implementing A Standardized Rounding Tool

Project Topic:

Developing a rounding tool to increase true collaboration among staff and improve overall patient satisfaction

Hospital, City and State:

Wilkes Medical Center, North Wilkesboro, North Carolina

Unit:

• 3 Medical

CSI Participants:

• Mason Fox, BSN, RN
• Tiffany Minton, BSN, RN, MEDSURG-BC
• Mary Webb, BSN, RN

Project Goals/Objectives:

1. Increase Healthy Work Environment Assessment Tool (HWEAT) True Collaboration score among staff and clients on from 3.01 to 4.00.
2. Increase HWEAT Skilled Communication score among staff and clients from 3.22 to 4.00.
3. Decrease fall rates in 2026 compared to 2025 from 12 falls to 10 falls.
4. Decrease total amount of staff steps

Project Outcomes:

1. Increased HWEAT True Collaboration among staff and clients from 3.01 to 4.02.
2. Increased HWEAT Skilled Communication among staff and clients from 3.22 to 4.04.
3. Increased HWEAT aggregate score from “somewhat healthy” to “moderately healthy”
4. Decreased overall fall rate from 12 falls in 2025 to 9 falls in 2026 (25%)
5. Decreased total amount of steps from staff
6. These outcomes resulted in a positive estimated annual fiscal impact of $212,190

Project Overview:

The 3 Medical unit is a large unit with a high patient census. True collaboration and skilled communication among staff are low. The fall rate for our unit was significantly higher than the hospital average. In 2025, we had 12 falls. Our patient satisfaction scores have been low as well.

We developed and implemented a rounding tool to assist with ensuring patients are adequately rounded on to potentially decrease the fall rate on the unit and increase overall patient satisfaction. The tool uses the 5 Ps (pain, plan of care, personal needs, patient position, and placement of personal belongings) to ensure staff are asking about everything to ensure satisfaction and safety.

The results of this project were positive. The fall rate in 2026 decreased 25% from 2025. Our unit HWEAT scores were much higher and we scored "moderately healthy," which increased from "somewhat healthy" last year. The overall number of steps of staff members decreased as well. The feedback from the staff was also very positive.