Plan of Day | Plan of Stay: How Inter-Disciplinary Communication Improved Patient Experience and Hospital Throughput

Background: Effective communication among healthcare team members is critical for delivering high-quality, patient- and family-centered care while optimizing hospital operations. This case study examines the implementation of a structured “Plan of Day | Plan of Stay” model, leveraging bedside whiteboards to enhance inter-disciplinary communication in a pediatric hospital setting. By providing a clear, visual summary of daily care plans, care team members, and discharge goals, whiteboards foster transparency, empower patients and families, and facilitate coordinated clinical decision-making. Purpose: This quality improvement initiative evaluated the implementation of a standardized Plan of Day | Plan of Stay communication model on a pediatric gastroenterology (GI) inpatient unit to improve family-centered communication, discharge preparedness, and patient experience. Methods: A multidisciplinary intervention incorporating family-centered rounds, standardized whiteboard utilization, discharge readiness communication, and shared decision-making practices was piloted. Outcomes were assessed using post-discharge patient experience survey data and qualitative feedback from caregivers and staff. Results: Patient satisfaction scores increased significantly from 73.25% to 81.56% (p = .014). Improvements were observed in communication clarity, caregiver involvement, and discharge preparedness. Our analysis demonstrates that routine use of this communication tool during interdisciplinary rounds improves patient and family understanding, reduces anxiety, and enhances satisfaction. Simultaneously, it supports timely discharge planning, optimizes bed utilization, and reduces workflow inefficiencies. Conclusions: Standardizing daily and discharge communication through a Plan of Day | Plan of Stay framework improved patient experience and supported more timely discharges. The model demonstrates promise for broader application across pediatric inpatient settings. The findings underscore that structured, visible communication strategies, such as whiteboard utilization, can serve as a practical, low-cost intervention with measurable benefits for both patient experience and hospital throughput.