Assessing North Texas Regional Trauma Handoffs: A Multicenter Mixed-Methods Needs Assessment

Area of Science:

• Emergency Medicine
• Trauma Care
• Healthcare Communication

Background:

• Trauma video reviews reveal frequent problems in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) handoffs, including interruptions and incomplete information transfer.
• Effective patient handoffs are critical for ensuring continuity of care and patient safety in trauma settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a regional needs assessment of EMS handoff perceptions and expectations.
• To identify key areas for improving EMS handoff processes and guide future standardization efforts.

Main Methods:

• A multidisciplinary team developed an anonymous survey distributed to trauma providers across multiple institutions.
• Qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis, and quantitative data were summarized using descriptive statistics.

Main Results:

• A total of 249 responses were received from nurses, EMS personnel, and physicians.
• Overall handoff quality was rated well (median 4/5), but significant variability existed between institutions.
• Key information for handoffs included mechanism, vital signs, Glasgow Coma Scale, and injury location.
• Most receiving providers (78%) interrupted handoffs, and 66% of EMS clinicians found this disruptive.
• Top improvement areas identified were environment, communication, information relayed, team dynamics, and care flow.

Conclusions:

• Despite general satisfaction, 84% of EMS clinicians reported significant variability in handoffs across institutions.
• Identified gaps in standardization include exposure, education, and enforcement of handoff protocols.
• Standardizing EMS handoffs is crucial to improve information transfer and patient outcomes.