Handoff refers to the transfer of healthcare from one provider to the other. The transfer could mean a transfer of information, responsibility or authority from one clinician to the other. Burton and Eaton et al have defined Handoff as verbal and written communication between health care professionals as they transition between work shifts or transfer of primary responsibility of care from one person to other. In the present era of exploding technology and super specialization, it is not only inescapable but also necessary to give the patient the best in health care that is available.
This involves frequent transfers. These transfers can involve handoff within healthcare set up from one clinician to the other, during duty shift changes or transfers from one institute to the other. Communication is particularly important but vulnerable to an error during times of transition or a…
