Running head: ADVOCACY THROUGH LEGISLATION
Advocacy Through Legislation: Ambulance to Emergency Staff Handover
Grand Canyon University: NRS-440VN
, Advocacy Through Legislation
Identify a problem or concern in your state, community, or organization that has the capacity to beadvocated through legislation.
Research the issue andcomplete the sections below. For each topic that requires the listing of criteria, a minimum of two criteria
should be identified and discussed. Add more rows as is appropriate for the topic/proposal.
Problem
In no more than 250 words, describe the problem, who is affected, and the current ramifications. Explain the consequences if the issue continues.
The handover process can be described as a time of clinical handover of patient information and a transfer of responsibilities from one healthcare provider to
another (Rethinking the hand-over process, 2015). Handover of patients from ambulance staff to emergency room staff is a critical time in a patient’s medical
treatment journey. When handover is not relayed in a methodical, organized fashion, important information can be lost or miscommunicated. This can lead to
missed or repeated treatments and a decrease in patient satisfaction. Lack of proper communication during handover can create a domino effect of uncertainty
and insecurity for all those involved in the encounter (Rethinking the hand-over process, 2015). Handover of the patient should be factual, non-biased, and
involve the patient so vital elements are not missed during this vital time.
The person most effected by poor communication during handover is the patient whose care is being handed over. However, the emergency medical
services (EMS) personnel as well as the hospital providers also are impacted by poor communication. When handover takes longer due to poor
communication, the ambulance stays out of service longer which can also affect other members of the community who may be in need of that ambulance. In
one study, 93% of handover delays were caused by emergency department staff interrupting with questions, 32% of those questions had previously been
2
Advocacy Through Legislation: Ambulance to Emergency Staff Handover
Grand Canyon University: NRS-440VN
, Advocacy Through Legislation
Identify a problem or concern in your state, community, or organization that has the capacity to beadvocated through legislation.
Research the issue andcomplete the sections below. For each topic that requires the listing of criteria, a minimum of two criteria
should be identified and discussed. Add more rows as is appropriate for the topic/proposal.
Problem
In no more than 250 words, describe the problem, who is affected, and the current ramifications. Explain the consequences if the issue continues.
The handover process can be described as a time of clinical handover of patient information and a transfer of responsibilities from one healthcare provider to
another (Rethinking the hand-over process, 2015). Handover of patients from ambulance staff to emergency room staff is a critical time in a patient’s medical
treatment journey. When handover is not relayed in a methodical, organized fashion, important information can be lost or miscommunicated. This can lead to
missed or repeated treatments and a decrease in patient satisfaction. Lack of proper communication during handover can create a domino effect of uncertainty
and insecurity for all those involved in the encounter (Rethinking the hand-over process, 2015). Handover of the patient should be factual, non-biased, and
involve the patient so vital elements are not missed during this vital time.
The person most effected by poor communication during handover is the patient whose care is being handed over. However, the emergency medical
services (EMS) personnel as well as the hospital providers also are impacted by poor communication. When handover takes longer due to poor
communication, the ambulance stays out of service longer which can also affect other members of the community who may be in need of that ambulance. In
one study, 93% of handover delays were caused by emergency department staff interrupting with questions, 32% of those questions had previously been
2
