Event Title
Improving the Patient Handoff from OR to PICU in Children Who Have Undergone Cardiac Surgery Using a Standardized Handoff Tool
Location
Hager-Lubbers Exhibition Hall
Description
PURPOSE: Hospitalizations for children are costly, and handoff transition from one inpatient setting to the next may negatively impact health outcomes. Handoffs are often associated with adverse events and medical error. Despite efforts to improve patient handoff, communication failure remains a significant problem. Research shows use of a standardized handoff tool improves patient transition. OBJECTIVES: This project focused on use of a standardized handoff tool from the operating room to the pediatric intensive care unit in children undergoing cardiac surgery to improve duration of handoff, postoperative goal review, patient complications, and staff satisfaction. METHODS: The quality improvement project was an observational pre-post improvement in a Midwestern children’s hospital with a convenience sample of 13 handoffs for patients 0-18 years of age. RESULTS: Handoff tool use improved 100% while duration decreased 0.63 minutes. Postoperative goals (8) improved from 0% to 20-80%. Patient complications decreased 84.7% post-implementation. Nurse satisfaction of handoff information exchanged improved (p=.049). CONCLUSIONS: A standardized handoff tool decreased postoperative complications and improved information exchange and staff satisfaction.
Improving the Patient Handoff from OR to PICU in Children Who Have Undergone Cardiac Surgery Using a Standardized Handoff Tool
Hager-Lubbers Exhibition Hall
PURPOSE: Hospitalizations for children are costly, and handoff transition from one inpatient setting to the next may negatively impact health outcomes. Handoffs are often associated with adverse events and medical error. Despite efforts to improve patient handoff, communication failure remains a significant problem. Research shows use of a standardized handoff tool improves patient transition. OBJECTIVES: This project focused on use of a standardized handoff tool from the operating room to the pediatric intensive care unit in children undergoing cardiac surgery to improve duration of handoff, postoperative goal review, patient complications, and staff satisfaction. METHODS: The quality improvement project was an observational pre-post improvement in a Midwestern children’s hospital with a convenience sample of 13 handoffs for patients 0-18 years of age. RESULTS: Handoff tool use improved 100% while duration decreased 0.63 minutes. Postoperative goals (8) improved from 0% to 20-80%. Patient complications decreased 84.7% post-implementation. Nurse satisfaction of handoff information exchanged improved (p=.049). CONCLUSIONS: A standardized handoff tool decreased postoperative complications and improved information exchange and staff satisfaction.