Implementing a Comprehensive Handoff Program to Improve Patient Safety

Sponsor

Brigham and Women's Hospital (Other)

Overall Status

Completed

CT.gov ID

NCT01130987

Collaborator

United States Department of Defense (U.S. Fed), Walter Reed Army Medical Center (U.S. Fed), Madigan Army Medical Center (U.S. Fed)

Enrollment

Locations

Arm

Duration (Months)

30.7

Patients Per Site

3.8

Patients Per Site Per Month

Study Details

Study Description

Brief Summary

The investigators propose to test the hypothesis that implementation of a comprehensive handoff program (CHP) - i.e., implementation of a computerized handoff tool along with teamwork training for internal medicine residents on inpatient units at Walter Reed and Madigan Army Medical Centers - will lead to reductions in resident miscommunications / medical errors and improvements in workflow and experience on the wards.

Condition or Disease	Intervention/Treatment	Phase
Medical Errors	Other: Computerized handoff tool Behavioral: Team training	N/A

Detailed Description

Following collection of baseline data on inpatient wards at both hospitals, teamwork training will be provided, accompanied by the introduction of a new computerized handoff tool that facilitates accurate transmission of data. The effects of this combined intervention on safety and workflow will be assessed on the intervention wards at both hospitals as compared with the historical control period.

Study Design

Study Type:

Interventional

Actual Enrollment :

92 participants

Allocation:

N/A

Intervention Model:

Single Group Assignment

Masking:

None (Open Label)

Primary Purpose:

Health Services Research

Official Title:

Implementing a Comprehensive Handoff Program to Improve Patient Safety

Study Start Date :

Jul 1, 2009

Actual Primary Completion Date :

Mar 1, 2010

Actual Study Completion Date :

Mar 1, 2010

Arms and Interventions

Arm	Intervention/Treatment
Experimental: Comprehensive Handoff Program Introduction of Computerized tool plus team training	Other: Computerized handoff tool Computer program that facilitates accurate transmission of patient information between residents Behavioral: Team training Training in teamwork and reorganization of handoff processes to optimize transmission of information and team care

Arm

Intervention/Treatment

Experimental: Comprehensive Handoff Program

Introduction of Computerized tool plus team training

Other: Computerized handoff tool

Computer program that facilitates accurate transmission of patient information between residents

Behavioral: Team training

Training in teamwork and reorganization of handoff processes to optimize transmission of information and team care

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

Rates of resident communication and total medical errors [July 2010]

Secondary Outcome Measures

Rates of all medical errors [July 2010]
Rates of verbal miscommunications [July 2010]
Rates of written miscommunications [July 2010]
Resident workflow, especially time spent updating the signout; time spent at bedside; time spent at computer [July 2010]
Resident care experience [July 2010]

Eligibility Criteria

Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study:

18 Years to 60 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study:

All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers:

Yes

Inclusion Criteria:

all internal medicine residents completing rotations through intervention units during data collection periods

Exclusion Criteria:

none

Contacts and Locations

Locations

	Site	City	State	Country	Postal Code
1	Walter Reed Army Medical Center	Bethesda	Maryland	United States	20307
2	Brigham and Women's Hospital	Boston	Massachusetts	United States	02115
3	Madigan Army Medical Center	Tacoma	Washington	United States	98431