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“HAND ME AN ISOBAR”: a pilot study of an evidence‐based approach to improving shift‐to‐shift clinical handover
Author(s) -
Yee Kwang C,
Wong Ming C,
Turner Paul
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2009.tb02617.x
Subject(s) - handover , protocol (science) , medicine , nursing , medical emergency , medical education , computer science , alternative medicine , telecommunications , pathology
Objective: To develop, using an evidence‐based approach, a standardised operating protocol (SOP) and minimum dataset (MDS) to improve shift‐to‐shift clinical handover by medical and nursing staff in a hospital setting. Design, setting and participants: A pilot study conducted in six clinical areas (nursing and medical handovers in general medicine, general surgery and emergency medicine) at the Royal Hobart Hospital between 1 October 2005 and 30 September 2008. Data collection and analysis involved triangulation of qualitative techniques; 120 observation sessions and 112 interviews involving nurses and junior medical officers were conducted across the six clinical areas; information on more than 1000 individual patient handovers was analysed. Results: We developed an overarching four‐step SOP and MDS for clinical handover, summarised by the acronym “HAND ME AN ISOBAR”. This standardised solution supports flexible adaptation to local circumstances. Conclusion: A standardised protocol for clinical handover can be developed and validated across professional and disciplinary boundaries. It is anticipated that our model will be transferable to other sites and clinical settings.