Patient Handoff Processes: Implementation and Effects of Bedside Handoffs, the Teach-Back Method, and Discharge Bundles on an Inpatient Oncology Unit

BACKGROUND: Bedside handoffs, the teach-back method, and discharge bundles have been shown to contribute to empowering patients to actively engage in their treatment. OBJECTIVES: The objectives were to identify patient activation scores, patient readmission rates, and nursing staff satisfaction before and after implementing bedside handoffs, the teach-back method, and discharge bundles on an inpatient oncology unit at a large military treatment facility. METHODS: A series of three cycles using the Plan-Do-Study-Act framework guided implementation of the multifaceted approach. Patient activation scores, readmission rates, staff satisfaction, and anecdotal feedback from patients and nursing staff were collected prior to and following implementation. FINDINGS: The sample of patients with cancer had high patient activation scores. After implementation of the multifaceted approach, readmission rates decreased from 32% to 25%, and staff satisfaction improved.