Abstract

Abstract Aim Standardised documentation of consultant-led multidisciplinary team (MDT) discussions for orthopaedic referrals are vital in optimising patient care and safety. There was no formal record of trauma-meeting outcomes within our trust, which could impede the continuity of care and patient safety. We aimed to implement a more robust model for documenting trauma-meeting outcomes. Method This closed-loop audit consisted of two 2-week cycles. Cycle 1 audited retrospective data on the proportion of patients with documented outcomes and their referral type. A 2-week intervention was carried out between the cycles. A proforma was developed and teaching was delivered to ensure accurate documentation. Reminders were given prior to each meeting to ensure clear outcomes were voiced. A survey was used to collate feedback for improvements from the team. Results Data was collected from 235 patients over cycle one (n = 127) and cycle two (n = 108). Cycle one showed 70% (n = 85) had documented outcomes, in comparison to 91% (n = 98) in cycle two. Analysis by referral type showed patients without documented outcomes were largely referred from the Emergency Department to fracture clinic follow-up. Only 2.13% had documentation in cycle 1 compared to 70% in cycle 2. The survey identified that 100% (n = 11) of participants found the intervention enhanced team communication and particularly improved follow-up care within fracture clinic. Conclusions The audit demonstrated positive change and has been implemented as a permanent protocol within the department, which could be incorporated into other surgical MDT meetings to enhance communication and patient care.

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