Study: Medical Errors Drop When Doctors Communicate

Originally published in the New England Journal of Medicine, a new study has found that “improvements in verbal and written communication between health care providers during patient handoffs can reduce injuries due to medical errors by 30 percent,” according to Science Daily. The researchers in the study successfully demonstrated how a standardized process for provider-to-provider communication during transitions in care can significantly reduce errors in the hospital setting.

MLMIC supports the concept that effective communication is imperative in ensuring patient safety.  This is especially true during patient handoffs. What steps has your hospital or practice taken to improve communication during handoffs in order to reduce the incidence of medical error?