What is described as the transfer of information, authority, and responsibility during care transitions?

The transfer of information, authority, and responsibility during care transitions is known as a handoff. This process is crucial in healthcare settings as it ensures that continuity of care is maintained when healthcare providers exchange information about a patient's condition and care plans.

During a handoff, key information about the patient’s status, history, and specific responsibilities is communicated to the incoming team or provider. This helps to minimize the risk of miscommunication, which can lead to errors in patient care, thereby enhancing patient safety. Well-structured handoffs incorporate standardized processes to ensure clarity and completeness of information shared.

The other terms are relevant to teamwork and communication within healthcare but describe different processes. A call-out refers to verbal communication that identifies critical information during a situation, often used in emergencies. A check-back is a communication technique that ensures the correct information has been received and understood by repeating it back to the person who conveyed it. A briefing is a discussion that prepares team members for a task, focusing on what will happen next. Each of these plays a role in effective teamwork and communication but does not specifically describe the comprehensive transfer of information, authority, and responsibility that occurs during care transitions like a handoff does.