Medical Team Handoffs

Abstract

Patient handoffs can look very different depending on the context, but regardless of the situation, they are a major vulnerability in patient care. The current regulations of resident work-hours have increased the frequency of handoffs, thereby increasing the risk to patients and the need to understand how to optimize the procedure. Moreover, the time pressure that many handoffs from one department to the next face pose a unique set of teamwork and communication challenges that need to be further explored. This expert panel will engage in discussion regarding the current state of medical team handoffs: in multiple contexts, how to use technology and the environment to increase their efficiency, and the role of human factors in creating a safer patient handoff.