Improving handover in recovery

Background: An anaesthetist’s responsibility for patient safety continues into the recovery area where remains at risk of surgical and anaesthetic complications. The multidisciplinary team is vital importance, with nurses taking a leading role in care. A clear handover between professionals should ensure continuity, quality, care.1 Royal College Anaesthetists provides guidance about this handover.2 Studies have shown that use checklists anaesthesia can decrease human error, improve teamwork quality care.3 In project, we aimed to evaluate handovers Inverclyde Hospital identify how these may be improved. Methods: online questionnaire was sent all theatre staff via Microsoft Forms questions current process. Using information, ‘Recovery checklist’ created presented departmental meeting. We then trialled using distraction-free ‘pause’ checklist, displayed every bay, structure over 4-month period. second impact change. length timed before after Results: initial received 20 respondents, including nurses, anaesthetists, nurses. Some 65% respondents thought not adequate. Fifty-five percent relevant information handed over. Eighty-five there were distractions during handover. follow-up 38 again from full team. 71% had been useful 76% would keen continue this. Eighty-two fewer However, 73% are only sometimes pausing There no increase average time taken changes. Conclusion: Most our hospital found introduction checklist useful. This new process has increased Further work include promotion so it used more consistently department. 1.Arora V, Johnson J. Jt Comm J Qual Patient Saf 2006; 32: 646–552.Royal Anaesthetists. Novice Guide 2019. https://www.rcoa.ac.uk/documents/novice-guide/typical-day-novice (accessed 20/03/23)3.Saxena S, Krombach JW, Nahrwold DA, Pirracchio R. Anaesth Crit Care Pain Med 2020; 39: 65–73