Let’s not confuse [fax] data transmission as communication…
The word communication is derived from the Latin "communis", meaning to share. The communication process is complete once the receiver has understood the message of the sender. “Face to face or direct verbal interaction improves situational awareness, and electronic tools are no panacea”. (Woods, D.D., Sarter,N.B. 2010)
The study of healthcare communication at patient handoff is complex due in part to;
i) Experience: Differing experience and expertise of clinicians (Senior vs. Junior) ii) Exposure: On a clinician’s first shift he or she will need more time to get to know his new patients, whereas on his or her fourth shift, he or she may know them quite well. iii) Time constraint: Most nurses in BC do not have a scheduled (paid) shift overlap forcing this complex task to be done under severe time constraint.
The standardization of handoff communication may not be the goal, rather the mass customization of fundamental handoff principles such as; i) basic communication skills, ii) Standard procedures, iii) Knowing what to handover, iv) being alert to vulnerable patients, v) awareness of responsibility, may be more helpful for large scale improvement. “The idea of completely standardized handover training is not in line with the identified differences in preferences and recommendations between different handover clinicians. Mass customization of training, in which generic training is adapted to local or individual needs, presents a promising solution to address general and specific needs, while containing the financial and time costs of designing and delivering handover training”. (Kicken 2012)