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Childbirth, the most common reason for inpatient hospitalization in the U.S., is most often a normal and natural process, but careful monitoring and assistance of women during their postpartum stay is essential. Although postpartum provider rounding traditionally occurs in the early morning, this timing may be disruptive for women and families, and may not facilitate meaningful communication and education. At one academic medical center, a randomized, controlled trial compared patient satisfaction with early (5:00–7:00 a.m.) versus delayed (8:00–10:00 a.m.) physician bedside rounding.
Over a 2-month period, 152 women were enrolled — almost double the number needed to detect a meaningful difference in satisfaction scores. Women randomized to …