Safe intrahospital transport of the non-ICU patient using standardized handoff communication

Safe intrahospital transport of the non-ICU patient using standardized handoff communication

Collection:
Health Policy and Services Research
Series Title(s):
Pennsylvania patient safety advisory
Contributor(s):
Pennsylvania. Patient Safety Authority.
ECRI (Organization)
Institute for Safe Medication Practices.
Publication:
[Harrisburg, Pa.] : Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority, c2009
Language(s):
English
Format:
Text
Subject(s):
Communication
Continuity of Patient Care -- standards
Interprofessional Relations
Patient Transfer
Process Assessment, Health Care -- methods
Safety Management
Transportation of Patients -- standards
United States
Genre(s):
Technical Report
Abstract:
The intrahospital transport of the non-intensive care unit (ICU) patient is often performed by unlicensed hospital personnel who frequently encounter patient condition changes requiring immediate intervention. Healthcare organizations have increasingly recognized the benefits of using a standardized handoff process particularly when patients are transported from one care area to another. Of the 2,390 patient transport reports submitted to the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority from May 2004 through September 2008, facilities identified patient transport Incidents and Serious Events having problems with communication, intravenous lines, monitoring and other issues in 280 reports. This article will examine risk reduction strategies to ensure the safe intrahospital transport of the non-ICU patient, including but not limited to the development of an intrahospital transport team for the non-ICU patient, standardization of patient handoff communication tools used during transport, and a robust educational program for unlicensed hospital transport personnel as ways to ensure the accurate exchange of patient information, to decrease the number of adverse events, and to promote optimal care.
Copyright:
Reproduced with permission of the copyright holder. Further use of the material is subject to CC BY-NC-DC license. (More information)
NLM Unique ID:
101563447 (See catalog record)
Permanent Link:
http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/101563447