TRENDING MEDICAL EDUCATION TOPIC: PHYSICIAN HANDOFFS

Miscommunications and handoff errors are two of the most significant causes of medical errors in hospitals in the United States. Approximately 80% of US hospitals’ most serious medical errors, such as diagnostic delays, preventable surgical complications, and medication overdoses, are thought to result from miscommunication between providers, especially during patient handoffs. These errors are a leading cause of mortality and morbidity. In a recent multi-center study, the implementation of the I-PASS (illness severity, patient summary, action list, situation awareness and contingency plans, and synthesis by receiver) system of bundled communication and training tools for the handoff of patient care between providers was associated with reductions in medical errors and in preventable adverse events and with improvements in communication, without a negative effect on workflow.

Recently, the Joint Commission released its list of top hospitals and noted that patient handoffs are a weak link in the nation’s healthcare system. High-quality handoff improvement programs need to be a top priority for hospitals. Handoffs can be overlooked as an important part of the care process. Thinking clearly about what can make a handoff effective or inadequate can improve performance. There are still gaps in understanding best practices for this type of communication.

Here are the learning objectives a speaker from Medical Education Speakers Network can help your staff accomplish in a session focused on Physician Handoffs:

• Define the term “handoff” and describe several different types of handoffs and what each entail
• Describe the impact of handoffs on care processes and patient safety
• Apply strategies to improve the quality of handoffs in their practice
• Navigate communication and/or cultural barriers which can impact handoffs

CLICK HERE to download a PDF file featuring information gaps, potential needs, and references for this topic.

If your medical staff needs an update on Physician Handoffs, consider contacting our office to book a speaker on this topic at 877-505-4777 or info@speakersnetwork.com.

REFERENCES

Chen L, Guo US, Bhesania S, Shah H, Ali E, Mehta P. For Residents, by Residents: Developing a Physician Handoff Tool at a University Affiliated Community Hospital. Cureus. 2021 Sep 28;13(9):e18352. doi: 10.7759/cureus.18352. PMID: 34725604; PMCID: PMC8555754.

Starmer et. al. JAMA. 2013;310(21):2262-2270