Standardized postoperative handover process improves outcomes in the intensive care unit

• DOI: 10.1097/ccm.0b013e3182514bab
• Publication Date: 2012-06-19T18:15:10Z
• Authors: Hemant S. Agarwal; Benjamin R. Saville; Jennifer M. Slayton; Brian S. Donahue; Suanne Daves; Karla G. Christian; David P. Bichell; Zena L. Harris
• Keywords: Male; Patient Care Team; Patient Transfer; Academic Medical Centers; Quality Assurance, Health Care; Communication; Continuity of Patient Care; Intensive Care Units, Pediatric; Quality Improvement; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; Postoperative Complications; Child, Preschool; Surveys and Questionnaires; Outcome Assessment, Health Care; Humans; Female; Prospective Studies; Cardiac Surgical Procedures; Child; 0305 other medical science

To determine whether structured handover tool from operating room to pediatric cardiac intensive care unit following surgery is associated with a reduction in the loss of information transfer and an improvement quality communication exchange. In addition, this decrease postoperative complications patient outcomes first 24 hrs stay.Prospective observational clinical study.Pediatric academic medical center.Pediatric patients over 3-yr period. Evaluation studied for two time periods: verbal (July 2007-June 2009) 2009-June 2010).None.Two anonymous surveys administered entire team evaluated each processes. Quality was by Likert scale responses second survey. Patient including cardiopulmonary resuscitation, mediastinal reexploration, placement on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, development severe metabolic acidosis, number early extubations 24-hr stay were compared periods. Survey results showed general opinion that excellent enhance (Likert scale: 4.4 ± 0.7). significant (p < .001) every category patient, preoperative, anesthesia, operative, details laboratory values. data revealed .05) three four major increase .04) introduction our standardized tool.In setting, information, during transfer, complications, outcomes.