Implementing a Comprehensive Handoff Program to Improve Pediatric Patient Safety
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Sponsor
- Boston Children's Hospital
- Enrollment
- 84
- Locations
- 2
- Primary Endpoint
- Rates of resident-related communication and total medical errors
Study Overview
Brief 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 pediatric residents on inpatient units at Children's Hospital Boston - will lead to reductions in resident miscommunications / medical errors and improvements in workflow and experience on the wards.
Detailed Description
Following collection of baseline data on two inpatient pediatric wards, teamwork training is to be provided to all pediatric residents. On our primary intervention unit, this will be 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 primary intervention ward as compared with the historical control unit and the concurrent unit that received teamwork training without the computerized tool.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Non Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel
- Primary Purpose
- Health Services Research
- Masking
- None
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 18 Years to 60 Years (Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria
- •all residents working on study units during study period, except as below
Exclusion Criteria
- •residents on the teamwork only unit who have previously been on the primary intervention unit
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Rates of resident-related communication and total medical errors
Time Frame: July 2010
Resident-related medical errors (including medication-related, diagnostic, and procedural) detected using a multi-pronged prospective surveillance methodology that involves 5d/week chart review, review of hospital incident reports, and collection of staff reports. Resident-related defined as involving a resident research subject. Communication errors are those medical errors attributable to communication failures.
Secondary Outcomes
- Rates of total medical errors(July 2010)
- Minutes residents spend updating the signout; minutes spent in direct patient care; minutes spent working at computer(July 2010)
- Resident reported experience of care(July 2010)
- Rates of verbal miscommunications(July 2010)
- Rates of written miscommunications(July 2010)
Investigators
Christopher Landrigan
Research and Fellowship Director, Inpatient Pediatrics Service
Boston Children's Hospital