Using *ORA, a network analysis tool, to assess the relationship of handoffs to quality and safety outcomes

Comput Inform Nurs. 2013 Jan;31(1):36-44. doi: 10.1097/NXN.0b013e3182701082.

Abstract

Communication during patient handoffs has been widely implicated in patient safety issues. However, few studies have actually been able to quantify the relationship between handoffs and patient outcomes. We used *ORA, a dynamic network analysis tool, to examine handoffs between day and night shifts on seven units in three hospitals in the Southwest. Using *ORA's visualization and analysis capabilities, we examined the relationships between the handoff communication network metrics and a variety of patient safety quality and satisfaction outcomes. Unique network patterns were observed for different types of outcome variable (eg, safety, symptom management, self-care, and patient satisfaction). This exploratory project demonstrates the power of *ORA to identify communication patterns for large groups, such as patient care units. *ORA's network metrics can then be related to specific patient outcomes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Communication*
  • Female
  • Hospital Units / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Interprofessional Relations*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nursing Evaluation Research
  • Nursing Informatics
  • Nursing Staff, Hospital / psychology*
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care
  • Patient Handoff / organization & administration*
  • Patient Handoff / standards
  • Patient Safety
  • Quality of Health Care
  • Software*
  • Southwestern United States