Enhancing the Art of Conducting Medical Ward Rounds: Addressing Deficiencies and Achieving Excellence

Abdelrahman Hamad¹, Afraa Fadul²

Keywords: Medical ward rounds, Patient care, Medical education, Interdisciplinary collaboration, Professional development.

DOI: 10.63475/yjm.v4i2.0181

DOI URL: https://doi.org/10.63475/yjm.v4i2.0181

Publish Date: 22-09-2025

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Pages: 279 - 283

Views: 5

Downloads: 4

Citation: 0

Author Affiliation:

1 Senior Consultant, Internal Medicine Department, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
2 Consultant, Department of Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplant, National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar

Abstract

Background: Ward rounds are a cornerstone of inpatient care, critical to patient management, interdisciplinary communication, and bedside teaching. However, despite their importance, ward rounds are often unstructured and inconsistent, limiting both clinical efficiency and educational impact.

Objective: This narrative review examines common deficiencies in current ward round practices and proposes a structured, evidence-informed framework to enhance their effectiveness.

Methods: A narrative review was conducted to identify deficiencies in ward round practices and develop a practical, evidence-informed framework for improvement. Given the focus on conceptual and experiential insights, a formal quality appraisal of the included studies was not performed.

Results: The review identified recurrent challenges, including poor planning, unclear leadership, inadequate time management, and a lack of integrated teaching. Drawing on best practices, a three-phase model—preparation, execution, and education—is proposed to enhance team communication, patient involvement, and trainee learning.

Conclusions: Structured, goal-oriented ward rounds can significantly improve care coordination, safety, and clinical education. Institutions should prioritize standardized ward round models supported by training in leadership, teaching, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

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