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Improving Signout Accuracy and Information Delivery in the Emergency Department

Completed
Conditions
Medical Errors Related to Emergency Department Sign Out
Interventions
Other: standardized sign out process
Registration Number
NCT01859286
Lead Sponsor
The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston
Brief Summary

The investigators sought to determine if implementing a standardized sign out process would reduce the amount of medical errors related to patient sign out. The standardized process included the following interventions: implementation of a data resident to review patients lab values, vital signs, radiologist results, and orders in real time, conducting sign out in a standardized location and using the attending physician as an "interruption manager." The investigators defined medical errors related to sign out as any piece of information was incorrectly reported or omitted during sign out that caused a change in treatment or disposition discussed during sign out. The investigators hypothesis was that implementing a standardized sign out process would lead to a decrease in the amount of sign out related errors.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
321
Inclusion Criteria
  • ED transfers of care occurring at 0700 or 1900.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Attending only handovers (1500, 2300)
  • Handovers including midlevel providers (Thursday 0700, 1300).

Study & Design

Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Study Design
Not specified
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
regular sign out processstandardized sign out process-
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Sign out related errors4 months
Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
perception of sign out1 year after implementation of revised sign out process

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Memorial Hermann Hospital - Texas Medical Center

🇺🇸

Houston, Texas, United States

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