Issues pertaining to clinical handover are particularly relevant to Australia’s largest country health system. While this tool showed promise, we wished to ensure clinical input and leadership before trialling it in our health care system. One such tool, the SBAR (situation–background–assessment–recommendation) checklist (developed by Kaiser Permanente in the United States), 6, 7 prompts the user to provide information on each of these four elements at each handover event. 4, 5 A review of the literature identified limited tools for clinical handover and a lack of evidence favouring any particular approach. The development of clinical handover systems such as standard operating procedures has been shown to reduce system failures. Variable and overlapping formats of written communication. The existence of multiple verbal and written contact points between service providers, each with highly individual and/or profession-dependent processes The failure to effectively communicate a patient’s condition when seeking advice or “bed-hunting” 4 A review of local clinical incidents confirmed that this pattern was particularly evident for acutely ill, deteriorating patients who require transfer to a higher level of care. T he failure of effective communication is a recurring theme in the patient safety literature, 1 - 3 specifically as it relates to clinical handover.
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