User participation in design, full information display, report standards, user customization, report tool aesthetics, and mobility are all elements that have contributed to the popularity of EHR-based Patient Handoff Tool. When these criteria were coupled, the report experience and communication effectiveness improved. There were fewer misunderstandings as a result of the increased communication, which had a knock-on impact throughout the firm. According to research, electronic contact between hospital employees and primary care physicians increases treatment continuity (Potts, et al., 2018; Watkins & Patrician, 2014). As a result of using these technologies, staff were satisfied with the report-writing process and had more time to give direct patient care (Palma, et al., 2011; Eberhardt, 2014; Lee, et al., 2013). 

Organizations may establish, develop, and deploy successful EHR-supported handoff report systems by employing the aforementioned features. The engagement of users in the design process, as well as the comprehensiveness of information, were discovered to be the two most significant variables for effective implementation. Staff that have been performing and receiving handoff reports for many years want a report that is comprehensive, simple to use, and customizable. 

Staff from other departments (such as pediatric units and critical care units) would very certainly require different information to complete handoff reports. Experts can weigh in on the relevance and relevance of various aspects of the study to ensure that the report is as thorough as possible. Workers may revert to paper handoffs if the report does not fulfill their criteria (Staggers et al. 2012). However, the benefits of a well-implemented and widely used electronic handoff report instrument may outweigh the costs of deployment. 

Ineffective handoff practices 

Patients are likely to face more handoffs than they did in the simpler and less intricate health care delivery system of a few generations ago as health care has evolved and specialized. Ineffective handoffs can lead to medication errors, wrong-site surgery, and patient deaths. Because of the changing nature of healthcare environments, communication between physicians, patients, and their families can be challenging. In certain nursing homes, 40–70% of patients are moved or discharged on a daily basis, highlighting the high frequency of handoffs and the possibility for breaches. 

As a result of advancements in knowledge and technology in the health care profession, several new types of health care providers and units have emerged. As a result of this dynamic specialization, risks to healthcare delivery, care fragmentation, and handoff issues may occur. Handoffs, according to public health organizations and practitioners, have become a public health concern since they endanger patients' health. "Fumbled handoffs" endanger patients' lives and the quality of their care. Inadequate handoffs can result in a wide range of patient safety concerns, necessitating more research and development. 

A range of factors can contribute to ineffective handoffs. Nurses might benefit from understanding more about how different professions communicate with one another. Surgeons say that 43 percent of their mistakes are the consequence of a communication breakdown, with two-thirds of those breakdowns being related to handoff issues. The usage of sign-out forms for physician engagement is common, however according to one study, 67 percent of these forms include inaccuracies. 77% There were also inaccuracies in the documentation, such as missing information on allergies and body weight. Handoffs have been connected to near-misses and bad outcomes among new nurses, particularly when information is inconvenient or unavailable. 

Acute care hospital organizational structures have become increasingly complicated, making it more difficult to choose the suitable provider. When a patient has many professionals caring for him or her, nurses and physicians struggle to find the proper one. According to a study, just 23% of doctors and 42% of nurses could correctly identify the doctor responsible for their patient.  A review of healthcare practitioners' communication on care and treatment revealed potential communication issues. 

Interpersonal communication, as well as competence and experience, are required to facilitate a smooth transition of care from one caregiver to the next. There have been complaints, for example, of a lack of organization during handoffs and changes in handoff quality throughout shifts.  A lack of formal didactic education in handing off patients has resulted in a significant training gap for new practitioners and the maintenance of existing paradigms. Doctors and nurses speak various languages. Nurses, on the other hand, emphasize the "big picture" through "broad and narrative" communication, whereas physicians concentrate on bullet points of important information. Using the SBAR briefing model, (p. The SBAR briefing model is being used effectively to increase handoff communication. 

Handoff Methods and practices 

Patient transfers might be risky. Over a five-year period, communication issues in US hospitals and medical practices resulted in about 1,750 fatalities, according to a 2016 research. At a typical teaching hospital, with 4,000 hand-offs every day, miscommunication is a big risk. 

In order to obtain the best surgical results, OR directors must guarantee that correct hand-off communication occurs with millions of patients each year. 

Five ways OR leaders may enhance hand-off communication, according to a CareAlign specialist. 

Standardization 

Patients may be put at danger when they are transferred. According to a study published in 2016, there were around 1,750 fatalities caused by communication issues in US hospitals and medical practices during a five-year period. At a typical teaching hospital, where 4,000 handoffs take place each day, miscommunication is a major concern. 

OR directors must ensure that the millions of patients who have surgery each year get adequate hand-off communication in order to ensure the greatest possible surgical outcomes. 

According to a CareAlign practitioner, there are five approaches to improve hand-off communication in the OR. 

Risk assessment 

The Joint Commission advocated risk assessments, notwithstanding CareAlign's recognition that this is a time-consuming process. 

"The review will aid you in identifying areas of danger as well as significant potential prospects," he explains. Utilize this time to define what you intend to do to remain compliant, including not just the creation of a new SBAR or I-PASS, but also the frequency with which you will examine and review handoff communication data. 

Verbal communication 

"In this manner, the information may be debated between the one who sends it and the person who receives it. If you are unable to meet in person, we recommend that you converse over the phone. Passing a scrap of paper around the table is not an appropriate manner of delegating tasks to another member of the team." 

Education 

It is critical for businesses to continue to improve their communication with their employees. However, there are a variety of technologies that can help in these attempts. 

For example, a sentinel event notification may be followed by a comment and a link to a website with "eight ideas for high-quality hand-offs." 

An anesthesiologist points out that there are several papers on care transitions in the perioperative setting in the current edition of the Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation. 

The US Department of Defense's Patient Safety Program has created a web-based resource for perioperative practitioners. The pieces in the tool kit make it easy to standardize hand-off communications. 

Leadership commitment 

According to panelists, the Joint Commission should place a high value on leadership commitment when reviewing survey operations and outcomes. "Is there a plan in place to avoid a certain finding from happening again in the future? This is true for a wide range of results from several fields, including those related to hand-off communication."