Survey Finds Patient Care May Be Harmed by Physician Handoff Errors

A survey showed that interruptions and distractions that occur during patient handoffs between residents may contribute to errors in patient care.

In 2006, 161 residents at Massachusetts General Hospital admitted that handoffs often did not take place in a quiet setting and were often interrupted, leading to misinformation or the incomplete communication of information.

An article in The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety urges physicians to compile complete information before meeting a colleague for a handoff in a quiet location with minimal distractions.

Source: The Boston Globe
http://www.boston.com/news/health/blog/2008/09/hazards_of_hand.html