Handoff Tool Helps Reduce Medical Errors and Adverse Events

Use of structured handoff protocols for within-hospital unit transitions: a systematic review from Making Healthcare Safer IV https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12232517/ A structured handoff tool called I-PASS (Illness Severity, Patient Summary, Action List, Situation Awareness, and Synthesis to Receiver) helps improve patient safety, according to an AHRQ-funded study published in BMJ Quality and Safety. The study, based on an evidence review from AHRQ’s Effective Health Care Program and General Patient Safety Program, examined the effectiveness of various handoff tools, such as checklists and scripts for sharing information, on patient safety during shift changes within the same hospital unit. Researchers reviewed published studies from the last 10 years and focused primarily on the impact of two tools, IPASS and SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation). I-PASS had the strongest evidence of improving patient safety. SBAR may help improve patient safety, but the evidence is weaker. https://effectivehealthcare.ahrq.gov/products/structured-handoff/rapid-research