Ticket to ride: reducing handoff risk during hospital patient transport.
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.
Pesanka
Deborah A
DA
UPMC Center for Quality Improvement and Innovation, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA.
Greenhouse
Pamela K
PK
Rack
Laurie L
LL
Delucia
Gail A
GA
Perret
Robert W
RW
Scholle
Carol C
CC
Johnson
Marlon S
MS
Janov
Cheryl L
CL
D003142:Communication; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003659:Decision Making, Organizational; D004282:Documentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000379:methods / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards; D010347:Patient Care Planning / Q000458:organization & administration; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration; D010358:Patient Participation; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010360:Patient Transfer; D010414:Pennsylvania; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011340:Problem Solving; D012307:Risk Factors; D017751:Safety Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014187:Transportation of Patients / Q000458:organization & administration*