Medical Staff

How to improve handoffs

Hospitalist Leadership Connection, October 6, 2009

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Communication is key to hospitalist handoffs, according to a new study, “Hospitalist handoffs: A systematic review and task force recommendations,” published in the September issue of the Journal of Hospital Medicine.

Researchers from the University of Chicago made recommendations during the handoff period in which patient safety is sometimes at risk. They found that best way to communicate information during service changes is a verbal handoff with written documentation. The documentation should be in a structured format or through electronic means. Communication should be refreshed daily with the latest clinical information, according to the study.



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