Study: Handoff improvement program reduces medical errors

A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that using resident handoff improvement programs can help reduce medical errors. The program was rolled out in nine hospitals, including a mnemonic to standardize oral and written handoffs, handoff and communication training, a faculty development and observation program, and a sustainability campaign. The study measured error rates through active surveillance and assessed workflow through time-motion observations.

The study measured medical error rates, preventable adverse events, and miscommunications in addition to resident workflow. In 10,740 patient admissions, the medical error rate decreased by 23% from the preintervention period to the postintervention period. The rate of preventable adverse events decreased by 30%, while the rate of nonpreventable adverse events did not change significantly.

Read the study here.