Abstract
A significant number of medical errors occur during patient handoffs, leading to less than optimal care, patient harm, and even death. The Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goals require hospitals to implement a standardized approach to "handoff" communications. The authors describe an initiative that focuses on standardization of the physical and informational handoff during hospital transport; outcomes are promising in terms of both patient safety and patient satisfaction.
MeSH terms
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Communication
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Continuity of Patient Care / organization & administration*
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Decision Making, Organizational
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Documentation / methods*
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Humans
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Medical Errors / methods
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Medical Errors / prevention & control*
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Outcome Assessment, Health Care
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Oxygen Inhalation Therapy / adverse effects
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Oxygen Inhalation Therapy / standards
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Patient Care Planning / organization & administration
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Patient Care Team / organization & administration
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Patient Participation
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Patient Satisfaction
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Patient Transfer
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Pennsylvania
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Practice Guidelines as Topic
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Problem Solving
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Risk Factors
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Safety Management / organization & administration*
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Total Quality Management / organization & administration*
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Transportation of Patients / organization & administration*