MedTrace Logo

Improving Signout Accuracy and Information Delivery in the Emergency Department

NCT01859286 · Status: COMPLETED · Type: OBSERVATIONAL · Enrollment: 321

Last updated 2013-05-21

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

The investigators sought to determine if implementing a standardized sign out process would reduce the amount of medical errors related to patient sign out. The standardized process included the following interventions: implementation of a data resident to review patients lab values, vital signs, radiologist results, and orders in real time, conducting sign out in a standardized location and using the attending physician as an "interruption manager." The investigators defined medical errors related to sign out as any piece of information was incorrectly reported or omitted during sign out that caused a change in treatment or disposition discussed during sign out. The investigators hypothesis was that implementing a standardized sign out process would lead to a decrease in the amount of sign out related errors.

Conditions

  • Medical Errors Related to Emergency Department Sign Out

Interventions

OTHER

standardized sign out process

The intervention phase included was the introduction of a standardized TOC (transfer of care) process, which occurred during April and May of 2012. TOC was done at a predefined location in each section of the emergency department (Medicine and Trauma). All participating residents were given a diagram detailing the central location and seating arrangement. The outgoing attending was designated to handle all distractions or disturbances that occurred during sign out. The most senior resident coming on to shift was designated the data resident. The data resident's role was to operate a centralized computer with the ED tracking board and EMR and review pending orders, vital signs and resulted labs and radiology reports after each patient was signed out. A brief pause was implemented to allow the oncoming team to ask any questions regarding that patient's care or course. The post TOC data form and protocol were identical to that of the control phase.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Nnaemeka G Okafor, MD · UT Houston Health Sciences Center at Houston Department of Emergency Medicine

Eligibility

Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2012-02-29
Primary Completion
2012-05-31

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

More Related Trials

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT01859286 on ClinicalTrials.gov