The I-PASS initiative was originally developed by Boston Children’s Hospital. I-PASS has several major elements bundled into a single intervention:
• Team training for clinicians in communication and teamwork skills
• An easy-to-remember mnemonic to ensure that key information is imparted in each handoff (I – Illness severity; P – Patient summary; A – Action list for the next team; S – Situation awareness and contingency plans; S – Synthesis and “read-back” of the information)
• Creation of a printed hand-off document that can be integrated into the patient’s electronic medical record
• Direct, structured observation of hand-offs by senior physicians with feedback.
A pilot study at Boston Children’s showed a 40 percent reduction in medical errors after implementation of the initiative. The initiative is now being rolled out to 10 pediatric healthcare settings.
Related Articles on Medical Errors:
16 Statistics on the State of Healthcare Quality
U of Michigan Health Offers Guidance for Medical Error and Malpractice
Ensuring Continuity of Care to Prevent Unnecessary Hospital ED Visits
At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.
