Handoff strategies in settings with high consequences for failure: lessons for health care operations.
OBJECTIVE
To describe strategies employed during handoffs in four settings with high consequences for failure.


METHODS



METHODS
of observational data for evidence of use of 21 handoff strategies.


METHODS
NASA Johnson Space Center in Texas, nuclear power generation plants in Canada, a railroad dispatch center in the United States, and an ambulance dispatch center in Toronto.


METHODS
Evidence of 21 handoff strategies from observations and interviews.


RESULTS
Nineteen of 21 strategies were used in at least one domain, on at least an 'as needed' basis.


CONCLUSIONS
An understanding of how handoffs are conducted in settings with high consequences for failure can jumpstart endeavors to modify handoffs to improve patient safety.
Patterson
Emily S
ES
Veteran's Administration Getting at Patient Safety (GAPS) Center, Cincinnati, OH 43210, USA. patterson.150@osu.edu
Roth
Emilie M
EM
Woods
David D
DD
Chow
Renée
R
Gomes
José Orlando
JO
D002170:Canada; D058016:Health Facility Administration; D033181:Information Dissemination; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D017149:Private Sector; D012306:Risk; D012449:Safety; D014481:United States