Implementation of the I-PASS handoff program in diverse clinical environments: A multicenter prospective...

Area of Science:

• Healthcare quality improvement
• Patient safety research
• Medical communication studies

Background:

• Handoff miscommunications are a primary cause of medical errors.
• The I-PASS handoff program previously reduced errors in pediatric academic hospitals.
• The program's effectiveness across diverse specialties and settings was not yet assessed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the association between I-PASS implementation and improvements in patient safety and communication.
• To assess the effectiveness of the I-PASS program in varied healthcare environments.

Main Methods:

• A prospective Type 2 Hybrid effectiveness-implementation study was conducted.
• The study involved residents from diverse specialties across 32 hospitals (12 community, 20 academic).
• Longitudinal coaching and monthly metric reviews facilitated the enhanced I-PASS program implementation.

Main Results:

• Handoff-related adverse events decreased by 47% post-implementation.
• The quality of verbal and written handoffs significantly improved, with increased inclusion of key data elements and contingency plans.
• Improvements were consistent across adult and pediatric providers, and community and academic settings.

Conclusions:

• The I-PASS handoff program is effective in reducing medical errors and enhancing communication quality.
• The program's benefits extend across various specialties and healthcare settings, including community hospitals.
• This study supports the widespread adoption of the I-PASS program to improve patient safety.