Handoff practices in emergency medicine: are we making progress?

Hern HG Jr, Gallahue FE, Burns BD, et al; Council of Residency Directors, Transitions of Care Task Force. Acad Emerg Med. 2016;23:197-201.

Improving patient handoffs has emerged as a critical safety goal of residency training programs. This national survey study of emergency medicine residency programs found that more than half of respondents now use a standardized handoff protocol. Even though more programs offer formal handoff training compared to a similar study in 2011, less than two-thirds of respondents felt their residents were competent in delivering and receiving handoffs.