A Study on Standardized System of Shift Handover Communication Compliance

Healthcare Management

One of The Joint Commission’s 2007 National Patient Safety Goals is to implement a standardized approach to hand-over communication. Patient handover has been recognized internationally as a high-risk area for patient safety. Keeping in mind the above backdrop, the study was carried to increase the handover communication compliance in a super-specialty hospital in Gurgaon, India. The interventional research was carried with 120 shifts data of the Nightingale ward, ICU’s, and Executive Rooms in the hospital. Handover communication and awareness was found to be very low. An intervention to improve the compliance of handover communication to 75 % was planned in consultation with Head of Quality and Medical Superintendent. After the intervention, it was found that the handover communication was improved and the target of 75% was achieved. The Handover communication form was filled on daily basis including Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation (SBAR), and a system of digitalized daily reporting of handover communication form to Medical Superintendent was implemented.

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