Evaluation of an asynchronous physician voicemail sign-out for emergency department admissions.

Study Objective: Communication failures contribute to errors in the transfer of patients from the emergency department (ED) to inpatient medicine units. Oral (synchronous) communication has numerous benefits but is costly and time consuming. Taped (asynchronous) communication may be more reliable and efficient but lacks interaction.

Dropping the baton: a qualitative analysis of failures during the transition from emergency department to inpatient care.

Study Objective: We identify, describe, and categorize vulnerabilities in emergency department (ED) to internal medicine patient transfers.

Methods: We surveyed all emergency medicine house staff, emergency physician assistants, internal medicine house staff and hospitalists at an urban, academic medical center. Respondents were asked to describe any adverse events occurring because of inadequate communication between emergency medicine and the admitting physician.