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O U T P AT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E | N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 5
I D E A S T H A T W O R K
C
reate laminated cards that
your caregivers can use at
each patient handoff along
the perioperative circuit. The cards
organize pertinent information in one
location, provide a tool that's passed
along to the next caregiver to refer-
ence and enhance interactive commu-
nication between caregivers so noth-
ing falls through the cracks. Plus, the
handoff receiver can pay attention to
the handoff giver without having to
take notes, because she knows she
will receive the card as a tool to keep
and refer to after the handoff.
You can customize the cards to the
specific needs of your facility, but
they should contain general informa-
tion such as the surgeon's name, the
procedure and family member contact
info in addition to vital information
such as the patient's allergies, NPO
status, the antibiotics they've received and the availability of blood
products in the event of a serious emergency.
To download an example of a handoff card, go to
outpatientsurgery.net/forms.
Pegi Wasserman, RN, BSN
Advocate Illinois Medical Center
P A T I E N T S A F E T Y
Information Cards Enhance Patient Handoffs
D L O H P & E Y / PR R URGE Y S DA E M A S
me Ti me Ti : n o e g r u S
In t u O
: x
H
d e M al n e
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ac i
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make e c Pa
g r u S : x H
s: e i g r e l l A Y N t: s li , Y If
? atex L N Y
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: ID L O ast S L
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: te i s IV : e g au G : F IV
d o o Bl ts: c u d o r p B) B n i ts i Un # ( _ __ _ ts e l ate l P _ _ _ P F F _ _ _ BC R
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s: d e e N al i c e p S r &/o n o ati l Iso
r e mb me y l ami F (s):
: Ph # / n o ati c o L @ n o i at c i f i t o n y l ami F
_ _ __ _ _ __ _ _ __ _ _ __ _ _ __ _ _ __ _
: Ph # / n o ati c o L @ n o i at c i f i t o n y l ami F
HT _ _ __ __ m/in c _ __ _ RR _ _ _ R H _ _ T _
WT ____ /lb kg _ __ 2 sat _ O _ _ __ _ __ _ BP
_ __ _ _ __ k _ c e h c u c c A
N R _ _ _ __
z QUICK REFERENCE Handoff cards ensure caregivers hit on
the vital clinical information when the responsibility of care shifts.
Chicago, Ill.
margaret.wasserman@advocatehealth.com
