Project Name: Patient Care Communication Project

Project Timeframe: October, 2007 – September, 2008

Project Description and Purpose:
Patient hand off communication is an important aspect of patient safety. When a patient is moved from an inpatient area to diagnostic imaging for a test, a patient care hand off occurs. During the patient care hand off there is a transfer of total patient care from one care provider to another. It is critical that pertinent information is consistently communicated between care providers to assure patient safety.

Improving patient hand off communication between care providers is in alignment with Rutland Regional Medical Center's commitment to offering optimal care to patients. Patient Care communication is also part of a national safety movement facilitated by the Joint Commission's findings which revealed that break downs in communication during the patient care hand off are a top contributing factor to medical errors.

Project Team:
The Patient Care Communication project is focused on improving the hand off communication process between Inpatient Nursing Units and Diagnostic Imaging. A multidisciplinary team that includes: senior leaders and members of front line staff from Inpatient Nursing and Diagnostic Imaging are working on this initiative.

Project Goals & Objectives:
To improve Rutland Regional Medical Center's process for patient hand off communication to ensure patient safety and to meet the Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goal 2, requirement 2E which requires the implementation of a standardized approach to hand off communication including an opportunity to ask and respond to questions.

Evaluation Process:
Following the Rutland Regional Medical Center's model for improvement (MEDIC), the multidisciplinary team performed a thorough evaluation of the current patient hand off communication process. During the course of this evaluation, it was identified that there was a lack of data. For this reason improvements were made to the event reporting data collection tool. Staff surveys were also developed to identify staff perceptions related to information currently communicated between Inpatient Nursing and Diagnostic Imaging. Flow charts illustrating the current process were developed and distributed to other front line staff for review. Extensive evidence based research of current practice, and communication theories have been completed. Survey information, research, and insight into cause and effect were utilized to develop a Trip Ticket to be used during the patient hand off.

Project Progress/Results:
A Trip Ticket has been developed to facilitate a standardized approach to patient hand off communication between Inpatient Nursing and Diagnostic Imaging. The pilot for the implementation of the Trip Ticket is currently under way.