A 2005 study of sentinel events reported to the Joint Commission by accredited health care organizations
revealed that a staggering 70 percent resulted from communication problems. Studies show that at least
half of these communication breakdowns occur during patient hand-offs.
The Joint Commission now requires a standardized reporting template for hand-offs.
Expectations note that hospitals should limit interruptions, allow sufficient time for
communication and include a process for verifying information between caregivers.
The Joint Commission also emphasizes the importance of monitoring and performance
improvement activities to ensure ongoing compliance.
OptiVox® addresses all major expectations of the Joint Commission’s
Patient Safety Goal 2e regarding interdisciplinary hand-off communications, including:
 |
Standardized approach to hand-off communication |
|
Method to ensure accurate and up-to-date information |
|
Process to verify received information |
|
Method to minimize interruptions during transfer of information |
|
Ability to review relevant information |
|
Opportunity to ask and respond to questions |
As a corporate underwriter of the Joint Commission’s national conference in 2006,
OptiVox was featured as an innovative technology used to improve patient safety and quality of care.
The technology is also highlighted in the Joint Commission’s 2007 best-selling manual,
"Improving Hand-Off Communication."
Click here to read complete details on how OptiVox Patient Reports complies with the Joint Commission’s Patient Safety Goal 2e. [PDF document]
Proven Results