Improving clinical handover in emergency departments

The diverse health needs of patients presenting to emergency department (EDs) are such that precise handovers between staff are critical to ensure all aspects of care are communicated. The handover process in an ED in south western Sydney, Australia, did not always achieve this, so a new approach, in which handovers tak place next to patients, has been developed. This article outlines the background to the change, describes the new system and reports the results of its audit.