title: Utilizing technology to improve intraoperative family communication.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To create and assess satisfaction with an electronic-medical-record (EMR) integrated communication system designed to optimize perioperative communication with families.
  
  
  METHODS
  We built a tool in the EMR's intraoperative nursing navigation screen for sending customized or standardized text pages to families in English or Spanish. Preoperatively, families were given text pagers with instructions and a hospital map to facilitate leaving the waiting area. After 6 months, Press-Ganey™ data and internal surveys from randomly selected families, and all nurses and surgeons were analyzed for satisfaction and effectiveness.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Press-Ganey™ data demonstrated 30% improvement in patient satisfaction (p < 0.05). Among families, > 90% indicated pagers were easy to use and provided the desired information during surgery. Of nurses, >90% found the system easy to use and believed it improved families' experience. All surgeons reported improved intraoperative communication and ease of finding families postoperatively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Perioperative family communication via EMR-integrated text improves efficiency and family, nurse, and surgeon satisfaction.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Surgery, Doernbecher Children's Hospital, Oregon Health Science University, Portland, OR, USA. Electronic address: wieck@ohsu.edu.
authors.forename: Minna M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Wieck
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Surgery, Doernbecher Children's Hospital, Oregon Health Science University, Portland, OR, USA. Electronic address: blakeb@ohsu.edu.
authors.forename: Blue
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Blake
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Surgery, Doernbecher Children's Hospital, Oregon Health Science University, Portland, OR, USA. Electronic address: sellick@ohsu.edu.
authors.forename: Chanda
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sellick
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Surgery, Doernbecher Children's Hospital, Oregon Health Science University, Portland, OR, USA. Electronic address: kenron@ohsu.edu.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kenron
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Surgery, Doernbecher Children's Hospital, Oregon Health Science University, Portland, OR, USA. Electronic address: devries@ohsu.edu.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: DeVries
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Surgery, Doernbecher Children's Hospital, Oregon Health Science University, Portland, OR, USA. Electronic address: terrys@ohsu.edu.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Terry
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Surgery, Doernbecher Children's Hospital, Oregon Health Science University, Portland, OR, USA. Electronic address: krishnas@ohsu.edu.
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Krishnaswami
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D057286:Electronic Health Records; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006801:Humans; D007430:Intraoperative Care / Q000379:methods*; D009922:Oregon; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D060145:Text Messaging
keywords: Electronic medical record; Patient satisfaction; Perioperative communication; Technology