Clinical Status: A Daily Forum for Resident Discussion and Staff Education

A forum at which the timely transmission of critical clinical information is coupled with a formal interdisciplinary teaching program has tremendous value in the long-term care setting. We have combined features of morning report used in teaching hospitals with attributes of “stand-up” meetings to fill this need. Each morning we hold Clinical Status, a gathering of representative staff from all neighborhoods (units) at which we discuss problems that have occurred during the previous 24 hours; admissions, discharges, and transitions; Center-wide concerns such as infection control measures; and upcoming events such as celebrations, lectures, and memorials. In addition, short educational presentations are made by staff members at each session. A survey of attendees confirms our impression that Clinical Status is regarded as an informative, stimulating and vital aspect of life at the Center.