Patsiendihando

Patsiendihando is a term used to describe the structured transfer of information and responsibility for a patient between clinicians during transitions of care. It occurs during shift changes, interdepartmental transfers, admissions, and discharge planning, with the goal of ensuring continuity of care and reducing the risk of information loss.

A typical handover includes key details about the patient, such as identity, current diagnosis or reason for admission, recent observations and vital signs, medications, treatment plan, pending tests or results, and any outstanding tasks. It may also cover allergies, code status, and discharge or follow-up needs, as well as relevant social or family context that could affect care.

Handover practices vary, but common methods combine face-to-face communication with written or electronic notes. Structured frameworks such as SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation) help organize the information and improve clarity. Some settings adapt ISBAR or other variations to fit local workflows. The emphasis is on concise, objective reporting and explicit confirmation of understanding.

The benefits of effective patiendihando include improved patient safety, clearer accountability, reduced omissions, and more timely implementation of the care plan. Challenges include time pressure, interruptions, inconsistent formats, and variability in staff training. Successful strategies encompass standardized handover checklists, mandatory readbacks, electronic handover tools integrated with patient records, staff education, and regular auditing of handover quality.

Ethical and legal considerations focus on patient confidentiality and accurate documentation within the medical record. Consistent, high-quality handovers support continuity of care across teams and settings.

See also: patient safety, handover, SBAR, electronic health records.