Hospital Care Team Rounds: Working Together for Patients & Families

Every weekday morning at 10 a.m. at Perham Health’s hospital, an interdisciplinary team gathers to participate in Care Team Rounds for the patients who are in the hospital. These rounds are designed to bring providers, staff, patients, and families together to ensure that everyone is on the same page about treatment plans, daily goals, and next steps toward recovery and discharge.

“Care Team Rounds are really an opportunity for us as a team to meet with our patients and their family members,” explained Jenny Doll, one of Perham Health’s social workers. “We focus on the plan for the day, the plan for their stay, and if there’s anything in the way. We address those things right there in the room.”

The Care Team

The Care Team includes the hospitalist (the doctor following the patient for the week), a pharmacist, the charge nurse, social workers, and physical and occupational therapists. Each role brings a different perspective. For example, the pharmacist can answer medication questions or recommend adjustments on the spot, while therapists share input about a patient’s mobility and readiness to go home.

The charge nurse typically leads the discussion once the team enters the patient’s room. Before that, the group meets to review the patient’s situation and align on what will be discussed.

Benefits of Care Team Rounds

The biggest benefit of Care Team Rounds is communication. Patients and families receive updates from the entire care team at once rather than piecing information together from separate conversations. “Sometimes it can feel overwhelming because there are six or seven of us who go in at once,” Jenny acknowledged, “but that way they’re not just getting bits and pieces. It gives the patients and their family an opportunity to ask questions too. It’s a good overall update, and patients and families do appreciate that.”

Taylor Helmeke, another social worker, added, “It’s also special for patients and families to put a face to the names of those caring for them across different departments. It helps build trust and connection.”

Care Team Rounds also streamline decision-making. Having all disciplines present allows quick problem-solving.

What Happens During Care Team Rounds

In the patient’s room, the focus is always on three key questions:

1. What is the plan for the day?
2. What is the plan for the stay?
3. What’s in the way of going home?

If barriers are identified, such as the patient not being strong enough to return home safely or needing additional support services, the team works together to address them. Social workers often coordinate referrals for home health, personal care assistants, hospice, or nursing home placement.

Rounds typically last just a few minutes in each room to keep the process efficient. More detailed questions can be handled afterward in follow-up conversations.

What We’ve Learned

One lesson from years of doing Care Team Rounds is how valuable they are for families. “There are often times when patients might not fully understand what’s going on medically,” Taylor shared. “Rounds help family members understand the scope of what’s happening and prepare for what going home will look like.” Families can join in person or by phone, ensuring no one is left out.

Having everyone involved saves time and reduces stress. “It saves us from making multiple phone calls and it saves families from having to call in with questions,” Jenny noted. “Once they know we round daily, many families look forward to it. Sometimes more relatives start joining as the stay goes on because they want to hear the updates firsthand.”

Ultimately, the process helps ensure patients and families are involved and informed, while the care team works more efficiently together.

As Taylor summed up, “We strive to serve our community best. Care Team Rounds are one way we do that—by making sure patients and families know us, know the plan, and feel supported.”