Improving Inpatients’ Identification of Their Doctors: Use of FACE™ Cards

Abstract

Background Improving patients' ability to identify their inpatient physicians and understand their roles is vital to safe patient care. We designed picture cards to facilitate physician introductions. We assessed the effect of Feedback Care and Evaluation (FACE™) cards on patient: (1) ability to correctly identify their inpatient physicians, and (2) understanding of their roles. Methods In October 2006, team members introduced themselves with FACE™ cards, which included a photo and an explanation of their roles. During an inpatient interview research assistants asked patients to name their inpatient physicians and trainees, and rate their understanding of their physicians' roles. Results 1686 (80%) patients in the baseline period and 857 (67%) in the intervention period participated in the evaluation. With the FACE™ intervention, patients were significantly more likely to correctly identify at least one inpatient physician (attending, resident, or intern) [baseline 12.5% vs. intervention 21.1%; p<0.001]. Of the 181 patients who were able to correctly identify at least one inpatient physician in the intervention period, research assistants noted that 59% (n=107) had FACE™ cards visible in their rooms. Surprisingly, fewer patients rated their understanding of their physicians' roles as excellent or very good in the intervention period (45.6%) compared to the baseline period (55.3%) (p<0.001). Conclusions Although FACE™ cards improved patients' ability to identify their inpatient physicians, many patients still cannot identify their inpatient doctors. The FACE™ cards also served to highlight patients' misunderstanding of their physicians' roles.

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“…This rate (91%) was much higher than the rate previously reported in the literature where a picture card was used to improve provider recognition. 22 It is also likely that 1 physician, rather than a team of physicians, taking care of patients make it easier for patients to recall the name and recognize the face of their inpatient provider.…”

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“…3,11,13,15 Based on previaous studies, we estimated that our baseline level of attending identification (in Phase 1) would be 20%. To detect a 25% difference in proportions with an a of 0.05 and power of 0.8, we calculated that we needed to enroll 60 subjects in each group.…”

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