Details of items on the ABC of handover
| Content | Purpose | |
| A | ||
| Areas and Allocation | Patient numbers, waiting times, doctor allocation to each area | Redistribute staff to areas in need |
| B | ||
| Beds | Bed situation | Plan admissions in advance |
| Bugs | Infection control issues (patients needing isolation, outbreaks or bay closures) | Plan side rooms, prompt isolation, arrange deep clean, highlight bed closures |
| Breaches | Patients approaching the 4-h trolley wait (including recent ‘breaches’) | Early referral decisions and avoid further delays |
| C | ||
| Colleagues | Staffing issues in ED and speciality teams, radiology waits, support by porters and laboratories | Anticipate problems on the next shift, prompt arranging cover from agencies |
| Consultant on Call | Consultant on call to be named for every shift | Clarity if contact is required |
| D | ||
| Deaths | Patients who died, expected relatives, reporting to coroner | Facilitate procedures, expect relatives, consider distress among staff |
| Disasters | Clinical incidents/events requiring additional security | Prevent further disruption |
| Deserters | Patient who leave before completion of treatment (recognised to be at risk) | Recall and expedite treatment on return |
| E | ||
| Equipment | Equipment failure such as arterial blood gas analysers, computer systems or ‘shute’ (transportation of pathology samples) or any other equipment | Report faults and make alternative arrangements |
| External Events | Sporting events, local carnivals, hospital events (eg, audit/teaching) | Expect multiple patients with specific problems, arrange extra training and resources |
Then handover every patient. Salient points for decision making and teaching. This was normal practice in our department and takes place following the ABCDE structured handover.