Improving patient flow from ED with electronic nursing handoff process

Editor's Note

Use of a standardized, electronic nursing handoff communication process resulted in decreased boarding time in the emergency department (ED) and increased bed flow efficiency, this study finds.

Before implementation of the electronic nursing handoff process, the average ready to move-to-occupied time was 83.6 minutes. This decreased to 49 minutes at 3 weeks after implementation and 47 minutes at 10 months.

The handoff communication process comprised a standardized electronic situation, background, assessment, and recommendation (eSBAR) format.