A four-step model aimed at improving clinical handovers can be utilized to achieve efficient, safe and effective process changes, according to research published in the Journal of Patient Safety.
Proper handover practices are key to ensuring safe continual care, but ineffective handovers can potentially result in medical errors and other adverse outcomes. Researchers established a change model and found the following four strategies are critical to improving clinical handover:
• Enhancing awareness of handover inadequacies and opportunities
• Identifying solutions for applying best practices
• Implementing best practices through proper communication, documentation and training
• Institutionalizing change through monitoring and continual evaluation
Read the study about proper clinical handovers.
Read other coverage about patient safety:
– 7 Statistics on Surgery Center Outcomes From the ASC Association
– AHRQ: Low Health Literacy Linked to Higher Risk of Death
– Understanding and Controlling the Hazards of Surgical Smoke
