Handoff Mnemonics Used in Perioperative Handoff Intervention Studies: A Systematic Review

( Anesth Analg . 2025;141:468-481 doi: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000007261.) This article explores how mnemonic tools have been used to improve the safety and efficiency of patient handoffs in perioperative care. Because these transitions involve multiple professionals, high noise levels, interruptions, and technical complexities, they pose substantial risks for communication errors and patient harm. National organizations such as the Joint Commission and the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education have urged hospitals to standardize communication, and mnemonics, such as SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation) and I-PASS (Illness severity, Patient summary, Action items, Situation awareness, and Synthesis by receiver), have become popular tools to ensure structure and consistency during these critical exchanges.