An internal medicine program director is designing a curriculum on patient safety and communication for incoming interns. A core focus of the module is the implementation of a structured handoff protocol that has been shown to reduce adverse events and prevent communication breakdowns during shift changes. Arrange the components of the standard I-PASS mnemonic in the correct sequential order from first to last.
- 1Illness severity
- 2Patient summary
- 3Action list
- 4Situation awareness and contingency planning
- 5Synthesis by receiver
Answer
The correct sequence is: Illness severity, Patient summary, Action list, Situation awareness and contingency planning, and Synthesis by receiver.
The correct sequence directly follows the standard I-PASS mnemonic for safe clinical handoffs. It begins with 'Illness severity' to immediately flag the patient's acuity. This is followed by a 'Patient summary' to provide necessary clinical context, and an 'Action list' to detail pending tasks for the shift. 'Situation awareness and contingency planning' provides anticipatory guidance (e.g., explicit 'if-then' instructions), and finally, 'Synthesis by receiver' closes the communication loop.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
I-PASS standardized handoff protocol
Estimated Time:45s