What every intensivist should know about handovers in the intensive care unit - Critical Care Science (CCS)

BACKGROUND

Handover, the act of transferring information and accountability between clinicians, is recognized by the World Health Organization⁽⁾ and critical care societies⁽⁾ as one of the key elements of quality and safety. With changes in residents’ working hours in the past years in the United States,⁽⁾ the number of handovers increased considerably, and a vast body of literature now exists for both critical care and postoperative patients.⁽⁾ Poor communication during handovers is associated with an increase in medical errors and adverse events,^(–) and several tools and interventions exist to improve communication and reduce medical errors.⁽⁾ Critical care units and postoperative recovery units are strategic areas where patients are more vulnerable to communication breakdowns, given the complexity of these areas and the multiple team transitions that occur during patient care.⁽⁾

[…]