Transferring critical pediatric patients from emergency department to intensive care: A quality improvement...

Transfer of care, moving hospitalized patients between care areas, is a critical point of vulnerability for healthcare organizations. Patient information handoff is an essential activity occurring frequently in hospital environments. Poor communication has been linked with adverse events and poor patient outcomes. This evidence-based quality project aimed to enhance the handoff process between the Emergency Department (ED) and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) by standardizing transfer of care steps. This was accomplished through customizing a reporting tool to contain all the information the receiving department deemed necessary for safe patient care.

A customized situation, background, assessment, recommendation (SBAR) form handoff tool was developed for ED to PICU transfers. This SBAR tool included information that PICU nurses identified as critical to transfer of care. Nurse perceptions were surveyed pre- and post-implementation. Patient safety event reports were tracked to evaluate events related to transfer of care before and after the practice change.

An increased number of PICU nurses agreed the customized handoff tool was complete and organized. Additionally, more nurses agreed that handoff gave all information needed to safely care for critically ill patients transferred from the ED. Lastly, bedside patient checks increased, and patient safety events related to transfer of care decreased.

This project demonstrated that implementation of a standardized transfer of care process coupled with a customized handoff tool increased PICU nurse perceptions that handoff was organized, and all information needed to safely care for critically ill patients was conveyed.

Transfer of care processes between the ED and PICU should be standardized. The use of customized tools may improve information exchange between nurses and ensure that all vital patient information is communicated.