Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 5, 2026
Setting Up a Stroke Team Algorithm and Conducting Simulation-based Training in the Emergency Department - A Practical Guide
Published on: January 15, 2017
Improving Communication Between Surgery and Critical Care Teams: Beyond the Handover
Christian James Turner1, Barbara Haas2, Christie Lee2
1Christian James Turner is an intensivist and clinical instructor, University Hospital of Northern British Columbia and University of British Columbia, Canada. Barbara Haas is an assistant professor, Interdepartmental Division of Critical Care Medicine and Division of General Surgery, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. Christie Lee, Michael Eric Detsky, and Laveena Munshi are assistant professors, Interdepartmental Division of Critical Care Medicine, Sinai Health System, University of Toronto. Savtaj Brar is an assistant professor, Department of Surgery, Sinai Health System, University of Toronto. christianjamesturner@gmail.com.
Background:
Structured communication tools for postoperative surgical handover to the intensive care unit (ICU) have shown promise, yet little work has addressed ongoing daily communication between the surgery and ICU teams thereafter.
Objectives:
Evaluation of a novel, 2-part communication intervention between surgery and ICU teams focused on postoperative handover and ongoing daily communication.
Methods:
A mixed-methods, pre- and postintervention survey study was conducted in a closed quaternary medical-surgical ICU. Study participants (N = 112) included ICU physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, and physicians on the surgical team. The intervention consisted of a handover checklist completed postoperatively on arrival in the ICU and a 5-item communication tool completed daily by the surgical team.
Results:
Satisfaction improved significantly in the following areas: postoperative handover communication (P < .001), daily communication (P = .001), understanding the postoperative plan (P < .001), initiation of deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis (P = .008), initiation of feeding (P = .009), and daily primary resident contact (P = .008). No significant improvement was seen in communication regarding disposition or overall improvement in patient safety risk from communication errors.
Conclusions:
A simple handover checklist improved health care practitioner satisfaction with communication during postoperative handover to the ICU. Concise daily communication tools are an appropriate option for improving ongoing communication between surgeons and the ICU team thereafter.
More Related Videos
10:38Observational Study Protocol for Repeated Clinical Examination and Critical Care Ultrasonography Within the Simple Intensive Care Studies
Published on: January 16, 2019
07:47Author Spotlight: 3D Scanning and Augmented Reality for Enhanced Cancer Surgery Communication
Published on: December 15, 2023
Related Concept Videos
01:21Interdisciplinary Care: The Health Care Team-I
Physicians
The physician's primary responsibility is to diagnose illness and direct the medical or surgical treatment of the condition. The authority to admit patients to a healthcare agency or institution and practice care within that setting is granted to physicians by the healthcare agency or institution...
01:18Interdisciplinary Care: The Health Care Team-II
Physical Therapist
A physical therapist (PT) aims to restore function or prevent additional impairment in a patient following an injury or disease. Massage, heat, cold, water, sonar waves, exercises, and electrical stimulation are some treatments used by PTs to treat...
01:03Communication
01:28Communication
01:16Critical Region, Critical Values and Significance Level
In hypothesis testing, a sample statistic is converted to a test statistic using z, t, or chi-square distribution. A critical region is an area under the curve in probability distributions demarcated by the critical value. When the test statistic falls in this region, it suggests that the null hypothesis must be rejected. As this region contains all those values of the...
01:31Critical Values