Improving Handoff Communication for High-Risk Anomalous Pregnancies
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Bell, Elaine
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- Embargoed until 2026-05-22
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Abstract
Problem: Inadequate handoff communication (HOC) is linked to 72% of perinatal deaths and incurs hospital charge averaging $1,308 per patient. Management of these pregnancies requires detailed and precise provider handoff communication. In a high-risk antenatal clinic, recent audits (Oct 2023 - Mar 2024) revealed scattered pregnancy information in five cases and critical discrepancies in three. Purpose: The purpose of this quality improvement (QI) project was to enhance adherence to standardized information exchange by implementing the Illness Severity, Patient Summary, Action List, Situation Awareness, and Synthesis by Receiver (I-PASS) handoff tool. Methods: Guided by a QI design, the I-PASS HOC tool was integrated into the Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system. Providers completed tracked education through a learning platform, with knowledge assessed via pre- and post-tests. Weekly chart audits monitored adherence using a HIPAA-compliant REDCap tool. A post-implementation survey evaluated provider satisfaction and sustainability. Results: Over a fifteen-week period, implementation of the I-PASS tool improved documentation adherence from a pre-intervention baseline of 12.5% to a median of 75% post-implementation. Provider knowledge also increased, with 83% scoring above 90% on the post-test. Conclusions: Findings align with existing literature supporting the use of the I-PASS handoff tool to enhance provider communication, documentation consistency, and provider knowledge. Integrating structured handoff protocols supports safer care for high-risk anomalous pregnancies and improved neonatal outcomes. Keywords: handoff communication, provider communication, I-PASS handoff tool, high- risk anomalous pregnancies, high-risk pregnancies
