• Madhumita Sinha, Jesse Shriki, Rebecca Salness, and Paul A Blackburn.
• Department of Pediatrics, Maricopa Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ, USA. postgraduate@cox.net
• Acad Emerg Med. 2007 Feb 1; 14 (2): 192-6.

ObjectivesTo determine the existing patterns of sign-out processes prevalent in emergency departments (EDs) nationwide. In addition, to assess whether training programs provide specific guidance to their trainees regarding sign-outs and attitudes of emergency medicine (EM) residency and pediatric EM fellowship program directors toward the need for the development of standardized guidelines relating to sign-outs.MethodsA Web-based survey of training program directors of each Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited EM residency and pediatric EM fellowship program was conducted in March 2006.ResultsOverall, 185 (61.1%) program directors responded to the survey. One hundred thirty-six (73.5%) program directors reported that sign-outs at change of shift occurred in a common area within the ED, and 79 (42.7%) respondents indicated combined sign-outs in the presence of both attending and resident physicians. A majority of the programs, 119 (89.5%), stated that there was no uniform written policy regarding patient sign-out in their ED. Half (50.3%) of all those surveyed reported that physicians sign out patient details "verbally only," and 79 (42.9%) noted that transfer of attending responsibility was "rarely documented." Only 34 (25.6%) programs affirmed that they had formal didactic sessions focused on sign-outs. A majority (71.6%) of program directors surveyed agreed that specific practice parameters regarding transfer of care in the ED would improve patient care; 80 (72.3%) agreed that a standardized sign-out system in the ED would improve communication and reduce medical error.ConclusionsThere is wide variation in the sign-out processes followed by different EDs. A majority of those surveyed expressed the need for standardized sign-out systems.

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