A successful formula for ward rounds.

To develop guidelines for conducting ward rounds, all trainees in the Department of Medicine residency program at Montreal General Hospital were asked to identify the clinical instructors who were most successful at conducting rounds. The nine instructors mentioned most often were asked to write a description of how they conducted ward rounds. The common characteristics were empathy to the needs of trainees, interest in being with and facilitating the learning of trainees at all levels, and accessibility. Implementation of the guidelines resulted in heightened awareness of the importance of the teaching function of clinical ward rounds as well as increased emphasis on making rounds useful and enjoyable.