Improving handover between the transport team and neonatal intensive care unit staff in neonatal transports using the plan-do-study-act tool.

OBJECTIVES: The aim was to achieve 100% effective handover from the critical care transport team to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) medical team.

STUDY DESIGN: All patients transferred from referring hospitals by the critical care transport team to the Level IV NICU were included. Data for each infant was collected prospectively. The percentage of transported patients for which medical team and nursing handover occurred was recorded. A quality improvement project was launched using the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) tool. We implemented several processes including call from the transport team before arrival and the completion of a transfer of care form on arrival to the NICU. The process measures and the outcome measure of completion of handover were monitored. Run charts of process measures and the outcome measure were analyzed.

RESULTS: Completion of medical handover increased from 95% (baseline) to 100% after 3 PDSA cycles and this has been maintained for 18 consecutive months.

CONCLUSION: Medical handover from the critical care transport team to the NICU medical staff has been achieved and sustained for all neonatal transports.