Question

Patient handoffs in a health care setting can be a challenge and also an opportunity of communication in care transition of care. Explain how communication is focused on patient health care differs versus other settings and what is needed to improve communications and optimize patient safety outcomes.

Answer 1

Patient handover procedure is the process of handling the patient care from one professional to another. It may be handed over due to change in shifts or referrals. The major element that is to be taken care of during this process is information sharing and communication.

It is seen that nurses are the integral part of patient handovers and are involved greatly in the process. It is found very crucial that nurses should provide appropriate interaction regarding the patients clinical presentation and important aspects of care to other professional while handover is made.

At times lack of communication and ineffective communication leada to passing of limited patient care information and this results in medical errors that harms patient in one or the other way and leads to poor quality care. The handover process varies from one setting to another. This depends on the culture, policies and guidelines of the setting.

It is important that effective communication tools such as ISBAR and other communication strategies should be well implemented and used in the hospital setting during patient handover process as this will help nurses and professionals to share appropriate informatio regarding patient care at optimum levels. Also, it will helps them to reduce any lack of communication that may lead to patient harm. Moreover, traininv and effective policy framework should be applied to include appropriate handover process.