Improving handoffs in the emergency department. [Ann Emerg Med. 2010] - PubMed result

Ann Emerg Med. 2010 Feb;55(2):171-80. Epub 2009 Oct 2.

Improving handoffs in the emergency department.
Cheung DS, Kelly JJ, Beach C, Berkeley RP, Bitterman RA, Broida RI, Dalsey WC, Farley HL, Fuller DC, Garvey DJ, Klauer KM, McCullough LB, Patterson ES, Pham JC, Phelan MP, Pines JM, Schenkel SM, Tomolo A, Turbiak TW, Vozenilek JA, Wears RL, White ML; Section of Quality Improvement and Patient Safety, American College of Emergency Physicians.

Sky Ridge Medical Center, Carepoint P.C., 5600 South Quebec Street, Greenwood Village, CO 80111, USA. dscheung@alum.mit.edu

Comment in:

Ann Emerg Med. 2010 Feb;55(2):181-3.

Abstract
Patient handoffs at shift change are a ubiquitous and potentially hazardous process in emergency care. As crowding and lengthy evaluations become the standard for an increasing proportion of emergency departments (EDs), the number of patients handed off will likely increase. It is critical now more than ever before to ensure that handoffs supply valid and useful shared understandings between providers at transitions of care. The purpose of this article is to provide the most up-to-date evidence and collective thinking about the process and safety of handoffs between physicians in the ED. It offers perspectives from other disciplines, provides a conceptual framework for handoffs, and categorizes models of existing practices. Legal and risk management issues are also addressed. A proposal for the development of handoff quality measures is outlined. Practical strategies are suggested to improve ED handoffs. Finally, a research agenda is proposed to provide a roadmap to future work that may increase knowledge in this area. Copyright (c) 2009 American College of Emergency Physicians. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.

PMID: 19800711 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Improving handoffs in the emergency department. [Ann Emerg Med. 2010] - PubMed result