title: Electronic handoff instruments: a truly multidisciplinary tool?
abstract: The objective was to assess use of a physician handoff tool embedded in the electronic medical record by nurses and other non-physicians. We administered a survey to nurses, physical therapists, discharge planners, social workers, and others to assess integration into daily practice, usefulness, and accuracy of the handoff tool. 231 individuals (61% response) participated. 60% used the tool often or usually/always during a shift. Nurses (46%) used the tool for shift transitions and found it helpful for medical history (79%) but not for acquiring medication, allergy, and responsible physician information. Nurses (96%) and others (75%) rated the tool as accurate. Medical nurses rated the tool more useful than surgical nurses, and pediatric nurses rarely used the tool. The tool was integrated into the daily workflow of non-physicians despite being designed for physician use. Non-physicians should be included in the design and implementation of electronic patient handoff systems.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
authors.forename: Kevin M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Schuster
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
authors.forename: Grace Y
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Jenq
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology, Ohio State University School of Medicine, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: Stephen F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Thung
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Hersh
authors.affiliation: Hospitalist Service, Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
authors.forename: Judy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nunes
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
authors.forename: David G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Silverman
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA Center for Outcomes Research and Evaluation, Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
authors.forename: Leora I
authors.initials: LI
authors.lastname: Horwitz
mesh_terms: D057286:Electronic Health Records; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000517:prevention & control; D062209:Patient Handoff; D010564:Personnel, Hospital; D057188:Workflow
keywords: Handoff; nurses; nursing; patient safety; quality improvement; transition of care