Improving end-of-rotation transitions of care among ICU patients

Denson JL, Knoeckel J, Kjerengtroen S, Johnson R, McNair B, Thornton O, Douglas IS, Wechsler ME, Burke RE. Improving end-of-rotation transitions of care among ICU patients. BMJ Qual Saf. Nov 4, 2019.

Handoffs are a vulnerable time for patients in which inadequate communication between providers can contribute to adverse outcomes; end-of-rotation handoffs have been found to put patients at even greater risk. Standardizing handoffs has been shown to improve patient safety. This single-center pilot study examined the impact of an ICU handoff intervention consisting of an in-person bedside handoff, a checklist, nursing involvement, and an education session. The authors found that the intervention was feasible to implement with high fidelity and did not improve length of stay or mortality.

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