Hand-Off Communication Form for New Tracheostomy Patients Being Discharged to Home

Unmet Need
Tracheostomy is one of the most common procedures for the critically ill and over 100,000 surgeries are conducted every year. Current tracheostomy hand-off systems are inefficient and prevent effective communication within the health care team and with the patient: common barriers are the lack of time, fatigue, and conflict that health care providers often have to face. Tracheostomy is a surgical procedure that involves making a small incision in the neck and placing a tube in the patient’s windpipe to allow for air to enter the lungs. Most patients are allowed to return home after the surgery, in which case, they will have to go through the hospital’s tracheostomy hand-off system.
 
Tracheostomy patient hand-offs are especially important as the procedure is multidisciplinary and often requires the patient to learn the maintenance of their trach tube. There is a need to develop a more concise and timely hand-off procedure for new tracheostomy patients being discharged to home.

Technology Overview
A researcher from the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing has developed a hand-off system tailored to tracheostomy patients that is concise and effective. This new hand-off system covers all information necessary for tracheostomy patients being discharged to home and allows for multidisciplinary team members to document on the same sheet to ensure the safe discharge of tracheostomy patients. This system also implements a structured interactive element between the patient and the provider; patients have multiple sessions with a specified member of the health care team such that each session addresses different topics such as nutrition, trach care, hand hygiene, etc. This methodical approach ensures that all aspects of patient’s educational component are covered and clarifies the role of each person on the health care team. Whilst streamlining the entire hand-off process for tracheostomy patients, this system also ensures that members of different disciplines understand their specific role and are involved during the hand-off process.

Stage of Development
A working version of product has been successfully completed. The inventor currently making minor changes.
 

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