IHI.org - A resource from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement
Header Image






Improve Work Flow:
Minimize Handoffs

Many systems require that elements (e.g., a customer, a form, a product) be transferred to multiple people, offices, or work stations to complete the processing or service. The handoff from one stage to the next can result in increased time and costs and cause quality problems. The work flow can be rearranged to minimize any handoff in the process. Redesign the process so that any worker is only involved one time in an iteration of a process. Sometimes changes in organization structure or position descriptions can minimize handoffs. For example, we can reduce layers of management that require multiple reviews, meetings, and approvals. We can expand clerical jobs to include scheduling, staffing, planning, and analysis. Or we can cross-train workers to handle many functions rather than be specialists in one specific function.




Examples of Tests of this Change

A hospital redesigned patient transfer processes to minimize handoffs of patients. For example, the emergency room can now call any of the units to tell them about a new patient, rather than going through the bed control department. Patients can now be admitted directly to the intensive care unit (ICU) after surgery, rather than to a post-anesthesia care unit and then to the ICU. These and similar changes to other transfer processes resulted in a higher patient satisfaction with services and lower costs for the hospital.


What others are saying
Post your comments about this item.
View All Comments
Post Your Comments