The Effect of a Standardized Form in Guiding Communication Between Peers During the Hand-Off of Patients in a Hospital Setting

The Joint Commission, whose mission is to continuously improve the safety and quality of care provided to the public hrough health care organizations establishes annual National Patient Safety Goals as part of their accreditation process of hospitals in the United States. One of the stated goals for 2009 is to improve the effectiveness of communication among caregivers. Hospitals, in meeting this goal, have used various methods, including the development of hand-off standards and improvements to supporting information systems.