Handling Handoffs

摘要

Patient transfers between hospital de-partments require a defined process that promotes good communication among caregivers. Miscommunication during patient handoffs has been associated with medical errors.1 In fact, poor communication during patient handoffs leads to more than 80% of medical errors in hospitals, according to one estimate.2 At one 450-bed hospital in New Mexico, a proactive improvement team was formed to enhance the patient-transfer process.