How to Improve Patient Safety with the Patient Handoff

Poor communication is a leading cause of medical errors in this era of collaborative care. Effective communication strategies can help facilitate the continuity of care, prevent errors, and provide a safe environment for the patient. Patient handoffs-the transfer of patient information and knowledge, along with authority and responsibility, from one or more clinicians to another clinician or team of clinicians during transitions of care across the continuum-are a predictable communication event that can improve overall communication and help reduce the number of preventable medical errors.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists encourages a standardized approach to the patient handoff.¹ The process should include interactive communication, limited interruptions, procedures for verification, and opportunities to review relevant historical data. The physical environment, confidentiality, language, organizational culture, communication method, and documentation are all factors that should be addressed during the handoff process (Table 1). Using structured forms of communication, such as the Situation-Background-Assessment-Recommendation (SBAR) technique or the mnemonic “I Pass the Baton” (Table 2), may also be useful.

Table 1. Communication Factors for Improving Patient Handoffs

Data from Committee opinion no. 517: communication strategies for patient handoffs.

Obstet Gynecol

. 2012.

¹

Table 2. “I Pass the Baton” Mnemonic for Improving Patient Handoffs

From Committee opinion no. 517: communication strategies for patient handoffs. Obstet Gynecol. 2012.¹

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References:

Reference
1. Committee opinion no. 517: communication strategies for patient handoffs. Obstet Gynecol. 2012;119(pt 1):408-411.