The Importance of Complete, High-Quality Patient Handoff Reports

This study occurred in a large, busy inner-city ED that sees more than 100,000 patients annually. Over the course of a few months, the bedside patient handoff (report) of critically ill and injured patients was recorded by anonymous scribes and audio recorded for later review. Neither the medical staff nor the EMS providers were aware that the handoff was being monitored. Ninety patient handoffs were evaluated. EMS providers relayed the patient's chief complaint 78% of the time. The patient's initial presentation was reported in 57% of handoffs and a complete set of vital signs in 47% of reports. EMS providers gave an overall assessment of the patient's condition in only 31% of handoffs. Paramedics were significantly more likely than EMTs to report each of the handoff components. The authors concluded that their study confirmed the previously reported poor quality of EMS handoff and "demonstrates the need for further training in the provision of patient handoff." Doc Wesley Comments When I first read this paper, all I could think is how this might be considered "ambush research," where performance is evaluated by unknown individuals and then scrutinized without consideration for the quality of care provided. But then I realized that this study had nothing to do with the quality of care. As is accurately reflected in its title, this study monitored nothing more than whether each of the components of the patient handoff occurred. Is that the whole story?...
Source: JEMS Patient Care - Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Tags: Patient Care Columns Source Type: news