Neonatal intensive care unit handoffs: a pilot study on core elements and epidemiology of errors

作者：DeRienzo C^*; Lenfestey R; Horvath M; Goldberg R; Ferranti J

来源：Journal of Perinatology, 2014, 34(2): 149-152.

DOI：10.1038/jp.2013.146

• patient care
• informatics
• quality improvement

OBJECTIVE: To define the core data elements of a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) handoff compare NICU residents' written and verbal handoff data with real-time, auto-populated data and identify the epidemiology of handoff errors.
STUDY DESIGN: We defined nine core data elements for a NICU patient handoff. We then compared residents' written and verbal handoffs against real-time, auto-populated data for each core element.
RESULT: A total of 101 NICU patient handoffs (31 unique patients) were analyzed. Per patient, residents made more written errors for infants in critical-care beds than for infants in step-down beds (2.33 vs 1.67, P = 0.04). Replacing residents' written handoffs with the gold-standard, auto-populated data would have prevented 92% of written errors.
CONCLUSION: NICU infants are subjected to many handoff errors. Sicker infants are at higher risk for error. Auto-population can reduce written handoff errors and allow residents more time for training and educational opportunities.

• 出版日期2014-2