Evaluation of Process Improvement Interventions on Handoff Times between the Emergency Department and Observation Unit.

Background: Mitigating hospital crowding requires judicious use of inpatient resources, making Emergency Department Observation Units (EDOUs) an increasingly vital destination for patients that are not suitable for discharge. Maximizing the utility of the EDOU hinges on efficient patient transfers and safe provider communication, which may be accomplished with asynchronous handoff and an emphasis on pull-through operations.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of an electronic, asynchronous handoff replacing verbal handoff on transfer times from the Emergency Department (ED) to the EDOU.