Communication failures during patient handoffs still cause significant harm in hospitals. A recent review found that using structured handoff protocols probably improves patient safety and that handoff quality remains a major focus for safety work. Health systems have moved from isolated alerts and phone calls to integrated clinical communication. Secure messaging tied to the electronic health record and EHR-integrated messaging platforms are now common, and studies show these tools change how teams communicate and document care.
Standardized handoff tools such as I-PASS and SBAR are supported by growing evidence. Recent systematic reviews and implementation reports conclude that I-PASS in particular is associated with fewer errors and improved handoff quality when combined with training and monitoring. When handoff information is captured directly in the EHR using a structured,…
