**7.2 Delivery**

How information is delivered is just as important as the message content, which is being communicated. Handoff communication should be clear, concise, and without the use of slang or other terminology, which might not be understood by the receiving clinician. Avoid giving handoff during patient transfer from the stretcher to the bed, as the listener may be distracted by the patient's movement and not be actively listening. Ideally, handoff should be given directly to the nurse or physician

#### *Patient Safety in Emergency Medical Services DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.108690*

who will be assuming care, with a verbal demonstration of understanding being given by the receiving clinician (closed-loop communication). A radio report is not considered an adequate handoff, as the receiver will likely not convey all aspects of the report to those who assume care, and important information will likely be lost [29]. Additionally, all critical elements of a verbal handoff should also be documented and available at bedside in case there are questions regarding treatment prior to arrival or if care is transferred to another clinician not present for the initial handoff. Additionally, results of point-of-care testing and copies of the ECG must be made available to the receiving institution so that they may become part of the patient's permanent medical record. A 2009 study found that even in controlled settings, "information gaps" occurred leading to the suggestion that further scrutiny is needed to assess and improve delivery and handoff of information [34].
