TY - JOUR T1 - Quality lines JF - Quality and Safety in Health Care JO - Qual Saf Health Care SP - i LP - i DO - 10.1136/qshc.2009.035477 VL - 18 IS - 4 A2 - Stevens, David P Y1 - 2009/08/01 UR - http://qualitysafety.bmj.com/content/18/4/i.abstract N2 - Handovers in physician postgraduate training continue to be a troubling source of error. This is highlighted by fresh perspectives in this issue of QSHC provided by five reports and a commentary from the US, UK, and Australia. Scholars in both the US and UK emphasize that effective handovers must be mastered systematically as a competency. All highlight the role of professional responsibility in assuring the safe, successful and informative handover. In one of the US studies, less than two-thirds of the combined oral and written sign-outs describe the patient’s clinical condition, hospital course, and whether or not there was a task to be completed by the covering physician. While the content of the handover has been a focus of many studies, the … ER -