Emergency handover of critical patients. A systematic review
Ruth Tortosa-Alted1, Sílvia Reverté-Villarroya1, Estrella Martínez-Segura1
1Hospital de Tortosa Verge de la Cinta, Catalan Institute of Health, Pere Virgili Institute, Carretera Esplanetes, 14, 43500 Tortosa, Tarragona, Spain; Nursing Department, Universitat Rovira Virgili, Campus Terres de l'Ebre, Avenue Remolins, 13-15, 43500 Tortosa, Tarragona, Spain.
Background:
Emergency handover of critical patients is used to describe the moment of union between prehospital and hospital health team. However, the literature shows several definitions leading to great heterogeneity.
Purpose:
To study the emergency handover of critical patients between two critical-emergency care wards performed by emergency nurses worldwide and to identify the features of these processes.
Methods:
We conducted an integrative review in eleven databases published from 2010 to 2019. Quality criteria and PRISMA checklist were applied. The protocol is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020182335).
Results:
A total of 22 studies included and the following factors were identified: variability vs standardization, identification, professionals' behavior, localization, environmental factors, patient participation, clinical records, education/training, responsability, and communication.
Conclusions:
The actual emergency handover occurs under conditions quite contrary to those recommended by experts so that it is neither safe nor effective, leading a serious problem for patient safety and quality care.
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