Transitions of Care

Transitions of Care

The ACGME Common Program Requirements states that sponsoring institutions and programs must ensure and monitor effective, structured hand-over processes to facilitate both continuity of care and patient safety.  In addition, programs must ensure that residents are competent in communicating with team members in the hand-over process.  To ensure compliance with this program requirement and to provide the best care for patients, a formal hand-off policy exists.  The consult and call residents place consult patients on the Epic handoff template to ensure safe and accurate transitions of care (see Appendix G)

On Friday afternoons and afternoons prior to holidays, the consult resident should email the on-call team (including the consult and call attending physicians) with a list of current patients and things that need to be followed up on over the weekend.

On Sunday evenings and evenings following a holiday, the call resident should email the consult and on-call teams (including the consult and call attending physicians) with a list of current patients and things that need to be followed up on. If Dr. Siegfried has been involved with any patient care over the weekend or holiday, she also needs to be included on this email.

It is expected that a verbal hand-off will also occur either face-to-face or over the phone between residents when a new resident is taking over consults or call.  These hand-offs typically take place on Friday mornings before or after Dermatopathology conference and may occur with or without attending physician participation or supervision.

Transitions of Care for Illness/Fatigue/Emergency

If a trainee is off duty because of illness, fatigue or emergency, the trainee should contact the Chief Resident as soon as possible regarding time off so that appropriate transition of care can be arranged.  The Chief Resident will be responsible for communicating this time off and coverage necessary with the residency program coordinator and program director.