Standardised proformas improve patient handover: Audit of trauma handover practice.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:The implementation of the European Working Time Directive has meant the introduction of shift patterns of working for junior doctors. Patient handover between shifts has become a necessary part of practice in order to reduce the risk of medical errors. Data handed over between shifts are used to prioritise clinical jobs outstanding, and to create theatre lists. We present a closed-loop audit of handover practice to assess whether standardised proformas improve clinical data transfer between shifts during handover in our Orthopaedic Unit. METHODS:We collected data handed over between shifts for a period of one week at our department. The data were in the form of hand written data on plain paper used to assist verbal handover. Data were analysed and a standardised handover sheet w

SUBMITTER: Ferran NA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2565654 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature