Safer handoffs from the operating room to the intensive care unit
EnhanCed HandOffs (ECHO)
A flexible, technology-supported handoff system will be used to improve communication for patients recovering from complex surgery when they are moved from the operating room to the ICU.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11308336 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I'm having complex surgery that sends me to the ICU afterward, this project aims to make that transfer safer. The team will build an INTERACT handoff bundle that combines a telemedicine-supported handoff process with an EHR-integrated machine-learning tool to highlight patient risks. Surgical, anesthesia, and critical care clinicians will use the bundle during real postoperative transfers to improve interactive communication, shared understanding of risks, and appropriate handoff duration. The researchers will track measures of handoff quality, communication patterns, risk awareness, and workflow impact.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are patients undergoing complex or high-risk surgeries who are expected to go directly from the operating room to the intensive care unit after their procedure.
Not a fit: Patients having minor or outpatient procedures who do not require ICU admission, or patients treated at hospitals not participating in the project, are unlikely to receive direct benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reduce postoperative communication errors and lower complications for patients transferred from the OR to the ICU.
How similar studies have performed: Previous checklist- and protocol-based handoff programs improved information transfer but often lost effectiveness over time, and combining telemedicine with machine learning for handoffs is a newer, less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
Saint Louis, United States
- Washington University — Saint Louis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Abraham, Joanna — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Abraham, Joanna
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.