Evaluation of Postanesthesia Handoff Checklist on Patient Outcomes in an Adult Postanesthesia Care Unit

Abstract

Purpose: The use of handoff communication tools, such as checklists, has been shown to improve communication and decrease the omission of critical patient care information. However, the effect these tools have on patient outcomes has not been investigated. After successfully implementing a handoff checklist in an adult postanesthesia care unit, patient outcomes were retrospectively measured before and after the implementation.

Design: Retrospective chart review.

Methods: Seven hundred and ninety-one prechecklist patients in September 2017 were compared to 828 postchecklist patients in September 2018. Pain scores, oxygen saturation, and end-tidal CO₂ readings were collected for postanesthesia care unit patients in both groups.

Findings: Postchecklist patients exhibited less severe pain (30.8% vs 42.4%) and fewer desaturation episodes (36.4% vs 44.8%). Time to rescue for both did not show a significant difference.

Conclusions: This retrospective comparison showed an improvement in measurable patient outcomes in the immediate postoperative period after the implementation of a handoff communication tool. More research is needed to determine the direct correlation between handoff tool use and measurable patient outcomes.

Keywords: handoff; handoff communication; patient outcomes; postoperative.