Implementing a Comprehensive Handoff Program to Improve Patient Safety

Medical Errors Clinical Trial

Official title:

Implementing a Comprehensive Handoff Program to Improve Patient Safety

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Completed

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT01130987
• Other study ID #: 2008P002191
• Secondary ID: BAA01 07005001
• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• First received: January 12, 2010
• Last updated: June 17, 2014
• Start date: July 2009
• Est. completion date: March 2010

Study information

• Verified date: June 2014
• Source: Brigham and Women's Hospital
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Health authority: United States: Institutional Review Board
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial 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.

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.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Completed
• Enrollment: 92
• Est. completion date: March 2010
• Est. primary completion date: March 2010
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: Both
• Age group: 18 Years to 60 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

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

Exclusion Criteria:

Study Design

Endpoint Classification: Safety/Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment, Masking: Open Label, Primary Purpose: Health Services Research

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Medical Errors

Intervention

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

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	Walter Reed Army Medical Center	Bethesda	Maryland
United States	Brigham and Women's Hospital	Boston	Massachusetts
United States	Madigan Army Medical Center	Tacoma	Washington

Sponsors (4)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Brigham and Women's Hospital	Madigan Army Medical Center, United States Department of Defense, Walter Reed Army Medical Center

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Rates of resident communication and total medical errors		July 2010	Yes
Secondary	Rates of all medical errors		July 2010	Yes
Secondary	Rates of verbal miscommunications		July 2010	Yes
Secondary	Rates of written miscommunications		July 2010	Yes
Secondary	Resident workflow, especially time spent updating the signout; time spent at bedside; time spent at computer		July 2010	No
Secondary	Resident care experience		July 2010	No