Improving the handover of complex trauma patients by implementing a standardised process

Area of Science:

• Medical Sciences
• Nursing
• Patient Safety

Background:

• Patient handover is critical for preventing harm, especially for complex trauma patients transitioning from the intensive care unit (ICU) to general wards.
• Multifaceted care requirements of trauma patients present unique handover challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop, implement, and assess a standardized handover process and tool for ICU trauma patient transfers.
• To improve the quality and completeness of patient information exchange during critical care transitions.

Main Methods:

• A multimethod before-and-after study design.
• Involved direct observation of patient handovers and semistructured interviews with ICU and ward nurses.
• Compared handover data and nurse perceptions pre- and post-intervention.

Main Results:

• The standardized process enhanced patient observation reporting and increased patient/family involvement in handovers.
• Ward nurses reported higher confidence in patient status post-intervention (91% vs 50%).
• Despite improvements, omissions in key areas like allergies and fluid balance persisted.

Conclusions:

• A standardized handover process and tool can improve the transfer of complex trauma patients.
• Addressing information omissions remains crucial for patient safety.
• Integration of electronic health record systems is recommended for future enhancements.