학술논문

Neonatal intensive care unit handoffs: a pilot study on core elements and epidemiology of errors.
Document Type
Article
Source
Journal of Perinatology. Feb2014, Vol. 34 Issue 2, p149-152. 4p.
Subject
*CHI-squared test
*HOSPITAL admission & discharge
*PREMATURE infants
*NEONATAL intensive care
*RESEARCH funding
*PILOT projects
*HUMAN error
*NEONATAL intensive care units
*DATA analysis software
Language
ISSN
0743-8346
Abstract
Objective:To define the core data elements of a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) handoff compare NICU residents' written and verbal handoff data with real-time, auto-populated data and identify the epidemiology of handoff errors.Study Design:We defined nine core data elements for a NICU patient handoff. We then compared residents' written and verbal handoffs against real-time, auto-populated data for each core element.Result:A total of 101 NICU patient handoffs (31 unique patients) were analyzed. Per patient, residents made more written errors for infants in critical-care beds than for infants in step-down beds (2.33 vs 1.67, P=0.04). Replacing residents' written handoffs with the gold-standard, auto-populated data would have prevented 92% of written errors.Conclusion:NICU infants are subjected to many handoff errors. Sicker infants are at higher risk for error. Auto-population can reduce written handoff errors and allow residents more time for training and educational opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]