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Fine-tune your handoff communication processes 
The Joint Commission examines handoff communication in the 2007 NPSG FAQs released in February in an attempt to help hospitals better comply with NPSG #2E.
The FAQs cover a lot of ground regarding handoffs, but they emphasize the following main points:
Handoff processes must be standardized for similar settings or functions (e.g., similar nursing units) and within similar handoff situations (e.g., nurse-to-nurse or nurse-to-transporter)
Although a written policy is not required, the handoff process must be defined and communicated to staff
Handoffs must allow for "an opportunity to ask and respond to questions" which, for all practical purposes, requires a face-to-face or person-to-person "interactive" conversation
The standardization of the physician-to-physician handoff process or approach is just as crucial as nurse-to-nurse or any other type of handoff
Hospitalists must receive handoff information for all patients for whom they have accepted responsibility
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