Engineering safe care journeys: Reenvisioning interhospital transfers

Abstract

The scenario is all too familiar: the admitting medical team flips through a large stack of paper that comes with the new patient transferred from another hospital. Almost all the clinically relevant information is buried or missing. Electronic health records (EHRs) show no prior encounters in the system and no note from the accepting provider. Then, an urgent page appears: "Please see patient; they do not look well. Family is anxious for an update and wants to know the plan." The sense of unease is palpable; no one enjoys being unprepared when meeting a new patient.