Improving clinical handover in emergency departments

Area of Science:

• Emergency Medicine
• Patient Handovers
• Healthcare Communication

Background:

• Emergency departments (EDs) face challenges in communicating diverse patient care needs.
• Traditional handover processes in a South Western Sydney ED were suboptimal.
• Ineffective communication during patient handovers can compromise care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and implement a new patient handover system in an Australian ED.
• To improve the accuracy and completeness of information transfer during patient handovers.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of bedside handovers in an emergency care setting.

Main Methods:

• A new handover protocol was designed, involving staff interacting at the patient's bedside.
• The implementation of the bedside handover system was described.
• An audit was conducted to assess the outcomes of the new handover process.

Main Results:

• The new bedside handover system aimed to enhance communication clarity.
• The audit results provided data on the effectiveness of the implemented changes.
• Specific improvements in information transfer were detailed in the study.

Conclusions:

• Bedside patient handovers represent a significant improvement in ED communication.
• The new system facilitates comprehensive care communication, enhancing patient safety.
• This approach offers a model for other emergency departments seeking to optimize handover processes.