Effect of standardized handoff on improved clinician preparedness in the ICU

Editor's Note

The UW [University of Washington]-IPASS standardized handoff curriculum improves provider preparedness and workflow in the ICU, this study finds.

The intent of UW-IPASS is to standardized and improve clinician handoffs through the use of a mnemonic and electronic medical record tool that ensures communication of essential information.

UW-IPASS resulted in a significant 3% decrease in communication errors, without any change in the duration of the handoff, and 73% of clinicians reported that the curriculum improved team communication and patient safety.

IPASS-based transitions of care represent an important step forward in communication standardization and may help reduce communication errors and omissions, the authors say.

Question Does the UW-IPASS standardized handoff affect clinician communication in the intensive care unit? Findings In this single-institution cluster randomized stepped-wedge clinical trial, the use of a standardized handoff curriculum resulted in a significant 3% decrease in communication errors, without any change in the duration of the handoff.

Read More >>