Based off of our last few AHRQ Culture of Safety surveys and the intense view of medication errors during transitions of care, we have been focused over the last several years on finding a handoff tool that could be used within Pharmacy. Many safety organizations have focused on communications between clinicians at transitions (including shift change).
While the I-PASS has shown so much promise and extremely great results for providers and nurses, this does not seem to translate well to Pharmacy.
How do you hardwire handoffs in your area? Specifically:
- Is the handoff electronic, verbal, both?
- Has something you have found worked specifically for shift change, day-to-day, other?
- Have you mandated some sort of handoff? If so, how is this hardwired? Do both the different pharmacists have time set-aside for this?
- Do you have a standardized handoff-template? If yes, is this team-specific or everyone?
Thank you in advance,
Joel