Discussion
This study demonstrated the complexity of clinical handover from the ambulance service to the ED. Type of information and timing from the giver to the receiver appear to be dependent on the patient’s reason for attendance,the individual staff member’s expectations, education,
prior experience and the busyness of the ED. Some of the findings of this study were similar to previous studies.
In our study, repetition of handover was discussed by the paramedics in both types of clinical handover the critical and the non-critical patient. This repetition occurred manytimes for critically ill patients. This finding was analogous to another Australian study that suggested repetition of handover occurred over 90% of the time (Yong et al., 2008). Similar to Yong etal.’s (2008) recommendation, a recurrent suggestion from the paramedics in this study was to have one identified team leader that the paramedic could give one clear and detailed handover to in the resuscitation room after the patient was transferred from the ambulance
stretcher. In contrast however, medical officers did not agree. Comparable to Jenkin et al.’s (2007) findings, most senior doctors preferred to greet the ambulance as it arrived, obtain a visual view of the patient and receive a preliminary handover prior to the transfer from the ambulance to the resuscitation room. This issue may warrant further investigation to determine the optimal procedure for handover for the critical patient.