Patient progress rounds on a university hospital cardiology service

The authors describe patient progress rounds, a weekly meeting of representatives of all disciplines associated with a university hospital cardiology service. The objective is coordination of treatment for all patients in the interest of providing comprehensive care. Each patient's clinical status is reviewed, but primary attention is given to psychosocial aspects. These rounds provide a medium for identifying and dealing with patients' needs, a cooperative teaching and learning venture for staff, a multidisciplinary team approach that increases quality of care, and an opportunity for doctors to confront the reality of their patients as psychosocial beings. Case vignettes illustrate the use and effectiveness of patient progress rounds.