https://doi.org/10.1177/1062860618754701 American Journal of Medical Quality 1–9 © The Author(s) 2018 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/1062860618754701 ajmq.sagepub.com Literature Review Patient care transitions are known to be complicated with multiple simultaneous processes and can lead to adverse events, communication problems, and technical disrup- tions such as omission of a key task. 1 During transitions of care, handovers or handoffs are “broadly defined as the transfer of the patient, information, equipment, profes- sional responsibility and accountability from one profes- sional person or group to another, and may also include strategies that promote education and teamwork.” (p. 227) 2 Accreditation Canada recognizes effective handover communication during patient care transitions as a required organizational practice. 3 Effective communica- tion is defined as “accurate and timely exchange of infor- mation that minimizes misunderstanding.” 3 Furthermore, The Joint Commission has reported that substandard handoffs may result in delays in treatment, inappropriate treatment, adverse events, omission of care, increased costs, and inefficiency from rework. 4 Operating room (OR) to intensive care unit (ICU) handovers are inherently complex because of the severity of the patient’s condition, the many equipment and moni- toring devices, and the multiple team members from both OR and ICU. 5 Thus, it has been suggested that having a standardized OR to ICU handover will ensure effective communication and help improve patient safety during this critical transition period. 5 In keeping with the afore- mentioned principles, the study institution has developed and implemented a quality improvement (QI) project to enhance OR to ICU handovers as part of an approach to enhance patient safety during transitions of care. As part of a multisite implementation of the new handover proto- col, the study team sought to complete a scoping litera- ture review. 5 Previous reviews of OR to ICU handover literature have identified crucial elements of the handover process, outlining components of a standardized process and the effect on information transfer and reduction in technical problems. 1,2,5-8 However, the scope of these articles fails to explore the broad spectrum of standardized 754701AJM XX X 10.1177/1062860618754701American Journal of Medical QualityZjadewicz et al research-article 2018 1 Alberta Health Services, Calgary, AB, Canada 2 University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada Corresponding Author: Karolina Zjadewicz, RN, MN, Department of Critical Care Medicine, Alberta Health Services, ICU Admin, McCaig Tower, Foothills Medical Centre, 3134 Hospital Drive NW, Calgary, AB T2N 2T9, Canada. Emails: karolina.herold@ahs.ca, Karolina.zjadewicz@ahs.ca Identifying What Is Known About Improving Operating Room to Intensive Care Handovers: A Scoping Review Karolina Zjadewicz, RN, MN 1 , Kirsten S. Deemer, BScN, MN, ANP 1 , Jennifer Coulthard, RN 1 , Christopher J. Doig, MD, MSc, FRCPC 1,2 , and Paul J. Boiteau MD, FRCPC 1,2 Abstract The purpose is to provide a descriptive overview of relevant material exploring improvement of handovers from the operating room (OR) to intensive care unit (ICU). An online search (MEDLINE, Cochrane, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Joanna Briggs), including gray literature and relevant reference lists, was completed. In all, 4574 unique citations were screened and 155 full-text reviews performed; 65 articles were included in the final analysis. The majority of articles discuss an ideal structure for handover (n = 63; 97%); 43 (66%) articles mentioned strategies for implementing such an approach. Only 21 (32%) explicitly described formal quality improvement (QI) methods. Few explored project sustainability and impact of a structured handover on patient safety outcomes (n = 15, 23%). Published literature suggests that there is a significant gap in evidence of measured patient outcomes from standardization of OR to ICU handover processes. Identifying formal QI strategies used to sustain standardized handover processes will allow accurate measurement of patient outcomes. Keywords handover, communication, quality improvement, implementation