COTTAGE HEALTH SYSTEM POLICY << Return to Residency Policies and Procedures   SUBJECT: TRANSITION OF CARE - Surgical Residents   DEPT: MEDICAL EDUCATION POLICY #: 8240.13   GOAL To establish and monitor an effective, structured hand-over process to facilitate both continuity of care and patient safety.   POLICY The transition of care of a surgical patient from one Resident / Midlevel provider (?team member?) to another will occur in both written and verbal form (?Sign-out?).   Written sign-out must include relevant medical history and notable hospital events so as to convey a full understanding of a patient?s medical concerns. Unresolved medical issues and important action-items must be highlighted to the accepting team member.   Verbal sign-out must accompany written sign-out. This will allow the opportunity for questions and to further expand upon or clarify the information provided via written sign-out.   Sign-out will occur at every level of the healthcare team; this will ensure a uniform understanding of a patient's care-plan at every level of the responsible team.   Sign-out must occur every time there is a change in the team members responsible for that patient?s care.   When questions or concerns arise regarding a patient?s care plan, those questions should be forwarded to a more senior member of the team, including the Attending Surgeon when appropriate.   5/12   << Return to Residency Policies and Procedures COTTAGE HEALTH SYSTEM POLICY RECOMMENDED BY: J. Gauvin, MD DATE: 9/11 ORIGINAL POLICY EFFECTIVE DATE: 9/11 APPROVED BY: E. Wroblewski, MD DATE: 9/11 DATE REVISED: DATE REVIEWED: