Influence of ward round order on critically ill patient outcomes.

PURPOSE: To examine the effect of order in which patients are seen on an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) ward round on ICU length of stay (LOS), mortality and duration of mechanical ventilation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective observational study in a tertiary metropolitan ICU over a 12month period. All patients who occupied the first and last three bed spaces of the ICU ward round, without having moved bed spaces during admission, were included. Separate analyses were performed for the absolute first and last patients.

RESULTS: 681 patients were included. There was no difference in the primary outcome, ICU LOS [median (IQR) 50 (23-102) hours for the first three patients seen vs. 51 (25-110) hours for the last three patients, p=0.594]. No differences were found in any secondary outcomes (hospital LOS, ICU mortality or duration of mechanical ventilation).

CONCLUSIONS: The order in which patients were seen on an ICU ward did not affect ICU LOS nor related outcomes.