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Can we make postoperative patient handovers safer? A systematic review of the literature.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Segall, N; Bonifacio, AS; Schroeder, RA; Barbeito, A; Rogers, D; Thornlow, DK; Emery, J; Kellum, S; Wright, MC; Mark, JB ...
Published in: Anesth Analg
July 2012

Postoperative patient handovers are fraught with technical and communication errors and may negatively impact patient safety. We systematically reviewed the literature on handover of care from the operating room to postanesthesia or intensive care units and summarized process and communication recommendations based on these findings. From >500 papers, we identified 31 dealing with postoperative handovers. Twenty-four included recommendations for structuring the handover process or information transfer. Several recommendations were broadly supported, including (1) standardize processes (e.g., through the use of checklists and protocols); (2) complete urgent clinical tasks before the information transfer; (3) allow only patient-specific discussions during verbal handovers; (4) require that all relevant team members be present; and (5) provide training in team skills and communication. Only 4 of the studies developed an intervention and formally assessed its impact on different process measures. All 4 interventions improved metrics of effectiveness, efficiency, and perceived teamwork. Most of the papers were cross-sectional studies that identified barriers to safe, effective postoperative handovers including the incomplete transfer of information and other communication issues, inconsistent or incomplete teams, absent or inefficient execution of clinical tasks, and poor standardization. An association between poor-quality handovers and adverse events was also demonstrated. More innovative research is needed to define optimal patient handovers and to determine the effect of handover quality on patient outcomes.

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Published In

Anesth Analg

DOI

EISSN

1526-7598

Publication Date

July 2012

Volume

115

Issue

1

Start / End Page

102 / 115

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Quality Indicators, Health Care
  • Practice Patterns, Physicians'
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Postoperative Care
  • Patient Transfer
  • Patient Safety
  • Patient Care Team
  • Operating Rooms
  • Medical Errors
  • Interdisciplinary Communication
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Segall, N., Bonifacio, A. S., Schroeder, R. A., Barbeito, A., Rogers, D., Thornlow, D. K., … Durham VA Patient Safety Center of Inquiry. (2012). Can we make postoperative patient handovers safer? A systematic review of the literature. Anesth Analg, 115(1), 102–115. https://doi.org/10.1213/ANE.0b013e318253af4b
Segall, Noa, Alberto S. Bonifacio, Rebecca A. Schroeder, Atilio Barbeito, Dawn Rogers, Deirdre K. Thornlow, James Emery, et al. “Can we make postoperative patient handovers safer? A systematic review of the literature.Anesth Analg 115, no. 1 (July 2012): 102–15. https://doi.org/10.1213/ANE.0b013e318253af4b.
Segall N, Bonifacio AS, Schroeder RA, Barbeito A, Rogers D, Thornlow DK, et al. Can we make postoperative patient handovers safer? A systematic review of the literature. Anesth Analg. 2012 Jul;115(1):102–15.
Segall, Noa, et al. “Can we make postoperative patient handovers safer? A systematic review of the literature.Anesth Analg, vol. 115, no. 1, July 2012, pp. 102–15. Pubmed, doi:10.1213/ANE.0b013e318253af4b.
Segall N, Bonifacio AS, Schroeder RA, Barbeito A, Rogers D, Thornlow DK, Emery J, Kellum S, Wright MC, Mark JB, Durham VA Patient Safety Center of Inquiry. Can we make postoperative patient handovers safer? A systematic review of the literature. Anesth Analg. 2012 Jul;115(1):102–115.

Published In

Anesth Analg

DOI

EISSN

1526-7598

Publication Date

July 2012

Volume

115

Issue

1

Start / End Page

102 / 115

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Quality Indicators, Health Care
  • Practice Patterns, Physicians'
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Postoperative Care
  • Patient Transfer
  • Patient Safety
  • Patient Care Team
  • Operating Rooms
  • Medical Errors
  • Interdisciplinary Communication