EMR-based tool boosts handoff completion rate to 86%

An EMR-based tool that incorporated a standardized treatment handoff process helped improve communication among nurses and reduced errors, according to a study published in Journal of Oncology Practice.

A multidisciplinary team developed a tool within the EMR to ensure a standardized treatment handoff process for nurses taking care of cancer patients. Researchers analyzed outcomes before and after implementation of the tool, over a one-year period.

The handoff tool was used in 85 percent of patient treatment visits, and the rate of handoffs completed increased from 32 percent pre-intervention to 86 percent postintervention.

Researchers found that the proportion of medication errors as a result of ineffective handoffs reduced from 60 percent before implementation of the tool to 32 percent after the implementation. Patient wait time showed an average reduction of 2 minutes per patient per month.

Eighty-five percent of nurses reported that the new tool conveyed necessary information for the handoff process, and 81 percent said it was effective in preventing errors.

Copyright © 2024 Becker's Healthcare. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy. Cookie Policy. Linking and Reprinting Policy.

 

Featured Whitepapers

Featured Webinars