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“Safe handover saves lives”: results from clinical audit

Rajeev Advani (Department of Otolaryngology, Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust, Wigan, UK)
Nicola Marie Stobbs (Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust, Wigan, UK)
Neil Killick (North Western Deanery School of Surgery, Manchester, UK)
B Nirmal Kumar (Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust, Wigan, UK and North Western Deanery School of Surgery, Manchester, UK and Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, UK)

Clinical Governance: An International Journal

ISSN: 1477-7274

Article publication date: 5 January 2015

3998

Abstract

Purpose

The implementation of the European Working Time Directive and its subsequent impact on the hours worked by doctors in training has resulted in shift-working rotas being the norm and greater cross-cover between specialties. As such, the need for continuity of information and comprehensiveness of handover between shifts has become more important than ever. The purpose of this paper is to show how handover can be improved by the implementation of an electronic handover system and subsequent Quality Improvement Rapid Cycle Change Model of clinical audit.

Design/methodology/approach

Initial data were collected using a standardised questionnaire collected prospectively from all junior doctors within the surgical division. Following the first audit cycle, changes were implemented in a Quality Improvement Rapid Cycle Change Model of clinical audit and a Surgical Division Electronic Handover Shared Drive was developed. Three further prospective cycles of clinical audit were carried out over a period of 12 months.

Findings

The results show a more effective handover system to be in place. Effects of change measured as an 80 per cent standard was achieved in all categories and maintained throughout all cycles of re-audit.

Practical implications

A surgical division shared electronic handover drive was developed and subsequent audits have shown improved handover practice in a foundation trust. This has positive benefits on patient safety and quality of care.

Originality/value

This work is of interest to those looking to set up an electronic handover system and additionally to all those working in specialities where cross-cover is required.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge Vikas Malik, Dr Amritraj Randhawa, Jawad Husain, Saam Youshani, Anthony Simons and Daniela Bondin.

Citation

Advani, R., Stobbs, N.M., Killick, N. and Kumar, B.N. (2015), "“Safe handover saves lives”: results from clinical audit", Clinical Governance: An International Journal, Vol. 20 No. 1, pp. 21-32. https://doi.org/10.1108/CGIJ-12-2014-0037

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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