Ask-Me-3 & Going-Home-3 Education Program: Improving Communication Between Patients and Doctors in Child Neurology.

Abstract

BackgroundEffective communication between physicians and caregivers is essential to high-quality pediatric care. Communication failures contribute to suboptimal outcomes, caregiver dissatisfaction, and increased health care use. Children with neurologic conditions often require complex and prolonged hospitalizations, increasing the risk of communication breakdowns.ObjectiveTo improve communication during hospitalization and at discharge, we developed and implemented a 2-part bedside communication tool-Ask-Me-3 & Going-Home-3-and evaluated its association with Press Ganey patient satisfaction scores.MethodsThis 6-month quality improvement (QI) initiative took place in a tertiary children's hospital where child neurology served as the primary admitting service. Physicians were trained to use a laminated, dual-phase communication tool during rounds and at discharge. Caregivers used this reference to track understanding. Monthly Press Ganey communication scores were tracked pre- and post-implementation and visualized using a run chart to assess trends. No formal statistical testing was performed, consistent with QI methodology.ResultsFrom March to August 2023, baseline communication scores averaged 82.0% to 83.5%, below the institutional benchmark of 83.9%. Following implementation (September 2023-March 2024), scores improved to 84.5% to 85.2%, exceeding both institutional and departmental goals. A run chart indicated a sustained upward trend. The internal caregiver survey (n = 98) demonstrated >95% satisfaction with communication during the initial implementation month.ConclusionAsk-Me-3 & Going-Home-3 is a feasible and low-cost tool associated with improved caregiver-reported satisfaction. It enhances communication at both admission and discharge in hospitalized child neurology patients. Further multicenter studies are needed to evaluate generalizability and long-term impact.