Are Attendings Different?. Intensivists Explain Their Handoff Ideals, Perceptions, and Practices

摘要: Purpose: What is known about physician handoffs almost entirely limited to resident practice, but attending physicians ultimately determine care plans and goals of care. This study sought understand what unique intensivist handoffs, identify perceptions the ideal content format intensive unit (ICU) how reported practices are aligned in delivery care. Methods: Intensivists active practice U.S. adult academic ICUs were purposively sampled interviewed over 9 months 2011 2012. Measurements Main Results: Thirty attendings from 15 institutions nine states interviewed. Subjects’ specialties included anesthesiology, emergency medicine, internal surgery. The “perfect handoff” was described as succinct, verbal plus written communication, took place person. Respondents believed that handoff should be less detailed than handoffs. Most participated at end each ICU rotation (n = 26). Standardized rare 1). Media used for combinations telephone conversations 25), in-person communications 11), e-mail 9), or text message 2). Handoff duration varied 10 120 minutes 5 42 patients. Five 30 respondents had undergone formal training conduct handoffs. Conclusions: A national sample intensivists identified common attributes yet their widely. Ideal may form basis future interventions improve communication between intensivists.