Hospital Handoffs as Multifunctional Situated Routines: Implications for Researchers and Administrators

Brian Hilligoss; Michael D. Cohen

doi:10.1108/S1474-8231(2011)0000011008

Login

Welcome:
Guest

Search for:

Browse:

Product Information:

Resources:

Advances in Health Care Management

ISSN: 1474-8231
Series editor(s): Dr. Leonard H. Friedman, Dr. Jim Goes, Professor Grant T. Savage

Subject Area: Health Care Management/Healthcare

Content: Series Volumes | Current Volume RSS

Options: To add Favourites and Table of Contents Alerts please take a Emerald profile

Document request:
Hospital Handoffs as Multifunctional Situated Routines: Implications for Researchers and Administrators

Document Information:
Title:	Hospital Handoffs as Multifunctional Situated Routines: Implications for Researchers and Administrators
Author(s):	Brian Hilligoss, Michael D. Cohen
Volume:	11 Editor(s): John D. Blair, Myron D. Fottler ISBN: 978-0-85724-713-1 eISBN: 978-0-85724-714-8
Citation:	Brian Hilligoss, Michael D. Cohen (2011), Hospital Handoffs as Multifunctional Situated Routines: Implications for Researchers and Administrators, in John D. Blair, Myron D. Fottler (ed.) Biennial Review of Health Care Management (Advances in Health Care Management, Volume 11), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, pp.91-132
DOI:	10.1108/S1474-8231(2011)0000011008 (Permanent URL)
Publisher:	Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Article type:	Chapter Item
Abstract:	Patient handoffs involve the exchange of information between health professionals accompanying a transfer of responsibility for, or control of, a patient. Concerns over the safety risks of poor handoffs have resulted in regulatory pressure to standardize practice and considerable growth in research. But handoffs involve more than information transfer, and their consequences for health care organizations extend beyond the safety of patients. Using an organization theory lens, we review the literature on handoffs and propose a framework that characterizes handoffs as multifunctional, situated organizational routines. We also identify implications for researchers and hospital policymakers. Standardization and improvement efforts run the risk of causing unintended problems if they overlook the complexity of handoff and the larger organizational functions it serves. Deepening our understanding of the multifunctional, situated nature of handoff can lead to improvement efforts that not only safeguard individual patients, but also enhance the capabilities of the larger health care organization.