mnemonic. The article provides an example
transcript using an unstructured handover and a
handover structured using DeMIST. Although the
structured handover is obviously an example of a
superior handover, it is possible that the ambulance
crew’s handovers suffered when using an unfamiliar
tool. Also, ED staff may have been familiar with
the ambulance crews and their idiosyncratic
communication styles. This may have contributed
to the decrement in recall when hearing a different
presentation format.
In a small study of intensive care unit handoffs,
the authors noted that handoffs are complex, take
many forms, and need to focus on what was