What should a clinician do when they receive a patient whose condition requires care beyond their expertise? The answer lies in proper patient handoff. Simply directing a patient to another practitioner is not enough. As healthcare delivery becomes increasingly fragmented, especially with multiple specialists and facilities involved, the need for accurate and safe patient handoff has never been more important. This fragmentation has advantages primarily the ability to provide specialized, patient-specific care.
However, it also comes with a serious drawback: the risk of losing critical clinical information during transitions. Every time a patient moves between doctors, departments, or hospitals, vital details must be conveyed. Missing or misunderstood information can lead to adverse clinical outcomes and potential medicolegal issues. To minimize these risks and strengthen patient…
