Reducing patient clinical management errors using structured content and electronic nursing handover

We examined whether an integrated nursing handover system—structured content and an electronic tool within the patient clinical information system with bedside delivery—would improve the quality of information delivered at nursing handover and reduce adverse patient outcomes. Using a pre/posttest evaluative design, improvements in the transfer of critical patient information and reductions in nursing clinical management incidents were demonstrated. No changes in falls or medication incident rates were identified.