Handoffs occur across the entire health care continuum in all types of settings. There are
different types of handoffs from one health care provider to another, such as in the transfer of a
patient from one location to another within the hospita164 or the transition of information and
responsibility during the handoffbetween shifts on the same unit.1 41• 43 Interdisciplinary
handoffs occur between nurses and physicians, and nurses and diagnostic personnel, while
intradisciplinary handoffs occur between physicians 3• 15 31 or between nurses. 13 14 41• 42 43
• • •
Interfacility handoffs occur between hospitals and among multiple or§anizations,68 including home
health agencies,69 70 hospices,71 and extended-care facilities.72 7
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•
Handoffs may involve use of specialized technology (e.g., audio recorders, pagers, hand-held
devices and computerized records) 2 fax 73 74 written documents 54 and oral communication 41 75•
' ' ' •
' . •
77 Each type and location ofhandoffpresents similar as well as unique challenges. Given the variety
ofhandoffs, the following discussion will focus on: