Patient Transfers and Handoffs Position Statement-Patient Transfers and Handoffs Position Statement

Pdf Summary

The Joint Commission recognizes that ineffective handoff communications in healthcare can lead to serious medical errors. Patient handoffs involve transferring essential information from one healthcare provider to another and occur frequently in emergency care settings. Multiple national and international organizations recommend implementing standardized approaches to handoffs to improve patient safety. The Emergency Nurses Association (ENA) advocates for clear guidelines and standardized approaches to handoffs, involving patients, families, and all levels of caregivers in the communication process. The ENA also emphasizes the importance of education and training for emergency nurses and support personnel on best practices for patient handoffs. Ineffective handoffs can lead to hindrances in diagnosis and treatment, fragmented care, medication errors, and increased costs. The use of standardized communication tools like SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation) has been recognized as effective in improving handoff communication and patient safety. Other standardized formats include Team STEPPS and I-PASS. Electronic health records can enhance handoffs but are not a substitute for effective communication. Further research is needed to establish practices that improve the safe transition of patients through different providers in the healthcare continuum. The ENA provides resources and guidelines for improving handoff communication and emphasizes the importance of ongoing evaluation and improvement in this area.

Meta Tag

transfers and handoffs report

transfers and handoffs transition

transfers and handoffs continuity of care

transfers and handoffs verbal

transfers and handoffs written

transfers and handoffs communication

Keywords

Joint Commission

ineffective handoff communications

patient handoffs

emergency care settings

standardized approaches

patient safety

Emergency Nurses Association

SBAR

Team STEPPS

electronic health records