Clinical handover

Clinical handover, patient handover or handover is the transfer of professional responsibility and accountability for some or all aspects of care for a patient, or group of patients, to another person or professional group on a temporary or permanent basis. Failure in handover is a major source in preventable patient harm. Clinical handover is an international concern and Australia, the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland have reviewed this and developed risk reduction recommendations. Some strategies to improve handover include bedside handover, using SBAR and using computerised handover sheets