Handoff from Operating Room to Intensive Care Unit: Specific Pathways to Decrease Patient Adverse Events

Handoff of patients from the operating room to the intensive care unit is a complex process. It involves 2 teams of caregivers, the physical relocation of the patient and monitoring equipment, and tight time constraints. Research and quality projects have focused on checklists and protocols to standardize handoff processes and content. Interventions also include requiring all team members be present, a team leader identified, and prehandoff communication. Outcome evaluation is limited by lack of standardized outcomes to define a good handoff. Instead, handoff content is often used as a proxy. Studies with larger sample sizes using rigorous methods are needed.