An analysis and recommendations for multidisciplinary computerized handoff applications in hospitals

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Informatics
• Patient Safety
• Clinical Communication

Background:

• Ineffective patient handoffs in healthcare are linked to adverse clinical events.
• The Joint Commission's National Patient Safety Goal 2E emphasizes improved handoff communication.
• Computerized clinical handoff applications are increasingly adopted in hospitals.

Purpose of the Study:

• Identify types of computerized clinical handoff tools.
• Compare application characteristics.
• Review implementation advantages, disadvantages, and provide recommendations.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of computerized handoff tools.
• Comparative analysis of application features.
• Evaluation of clinical and business implications.

Main Results:

• Overview of various computerized handoff application types.
• Detailed comparison of their features and functionalities.
• Analysis of benefits (e.g., improved data access, reduced workload) and drawbacks (e.g., cost, integration challenges).

Conclusions:

• Computerized handoff tools can enhance patient care and safety.
• Strategic implementation and feature selection are crucial for maximizing benefits.
• Further research and development can optimize these applications for better clinical outcomes.