title: Neonatal intensive care unit handoffs: a pilot study on core elements and epidemiology of errors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To define the core data elements of a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) handoff compare NICU residents' written and verbal handoff data with real-time, auto-populated data and identify the epidemiology of handoff errors.
  
  
  METHODS
  We defined nine core data elements for a NICU patient handoff. We then compared residents' written and verbal handoffs against real-time, auto-populated data for each core element.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 101 NICU patient handoffs (31 unique patients) were analyzed. Per patient, residents made more written errors for infants in critical-care beds than for infants in step-down beds (2.33 vs 1.67, P=0.04). Replacing residents' written handoffs with the gold-standard, auto-populated data would have prevented 92% of written errors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NICU infants are subjected to many handoff errors. Sicker infants are at higher risk for error. Auto-population can reduce written handoff errors and allow residents more time for training and educational opportunities.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Hospital, Durham, NC, USA.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Derienzo
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Hospital, Durham, NC, USA.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lenfestey
authors.affiliation: Duke Health Technology Solutions, Duke University Health System, Durham, NC, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Horvath
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Hospital, Durham, NC, USA.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Goldberg
authors.affiliation: Duke University Health System and Duke University Hospital, Durham, NC, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ferranti
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007396:Internship and Residency; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D062209:Patient Handoff / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012307:Risk Factors