Patient handover in a European border region: Cross-sectional survey study among healthcare workers to explore the status quo, potential risks, and solutions

Introduction While the popularity of international care is rising, complexity compromises patient safety. To identify risks and propose solutions to improve care, this study explores experiences healthcare workers with handovers in a European border region. Methods A cross-sectional survey design was used reach out 3000 workers, working for hospitals or emergency services three neighboring countries Meuse-Rhine Euregion. In total, 846 completed 35 closed- open-ended questions about handover. Results One-third respondents had been involved handover previous month. The occurred planned acute settings were supported by numerous, yet varying standardized procedures. Healthcare trained some, but not all settings. Respondents mentioned 408 proposed 373 solutions, which inductively analyzed. Six identified themes classify level on accompanying can be found: awareness, professional competencies, communication between professionals, loss information, facilities support, organizational structure. Discussion This gives insight Among biggest experienced are procedural differences, sharing unfamiliarity foreign systems, knowing roles responsibilities peers across border. Standardization procedures, harmonization possibility get know each other will contribute common ground move towards optimized patient-safer cross-border care.