Which structured handoff method is designed to reduce miscommunication during patient transfers, often used in inpatient settings?

• A. SBAR
• B. I-PASS
• C. Handoff checklist
• D. Call-out protocol

Answer: (B)

A structured handoff method designed to reduce miscommunication during patient transfers is I-PASS. It creates a standardized way for the outgoing and incoming teams to exchange critical information so nothing important is overlooked as a patient moves between units or providers.

I-PASS breaks the handoff into five elements: Illness severity, Patient summary, Action list, Situational awareness and contingency planning, and Synthesis by the receiving team. This framework ensures that the patient’s current condition and clinical plan are clearly communicated, responsibilities and next steps are explicit, and the receiving team confirms understanding and readiness to continue or adjust care. Because it requires explicit communication and verification, it helps prevent assumptions or missing details that commonly lead to errors during transfers.

While other tools like SBAR provide a general communication structure and handoff checklists offer a practical reminder, I-PASS is specifically designed for inpatient handoffs and has strong evidence showing it reduces preventable adverse events when implemented with training and a culture that supports thorough handoffs. Call-out protocols are more about signaling critical actions in real-time team situations rather than the full transfer handoff process.