Designing efficient handovers in the ICU

The art of handing over: Improving the patient handovers at the ICU by human-centred design

ICoon is a tool designed for enhanced patient handovers at the ICU, aiming to increase the experienced effectiveness and efficiency of the patient handovers by the ICU team.’

Researcher:

Laura Schrauwen

Design methodologies:

  • Observation
  • Interview
  • Creative facilitation

Project type: PhD Thesis
Design for Interaction

Domain: Design for Healthcare

Level: Interaction design

Outcome: Booklet + dashboard for patient handover

2020

Challenge

At the ICU, care is delivered by multidisciplinary healthcare teams who strongly rely on teamwork and communication. However, due to the complexity of the care for these patients and variety of healthcare professionals involved, handing over these patients effectively and efficiently can be challenging. Therefore, the aim of this project was to design a more effective and efficient patient handovers at the ICU using design methodologies and tools.

The aim of this project was to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of the patient handovers at the ICU by means of design.

Laura Schrauwen

Result

The design process resulted in 'Icoon' that consists of the following: 1. Overdragen (communicate): Besides bringing structure to the handovers, this tool aims for aligned expectations among the ICU team regarding the handover moments. It supports that the information shared by the sender will be in line with the information expected by the receiver. 2. Overzien(automate):  A dashboard aiming to improve the efficiency of the handovers because only relevant patient information appears on the screen. 3. Over hebben (collaborate): triggers reflection within the ICU, which can, for example, be initiated during scheduled reflection moments. It facilitates reflection on three levels: personal, interpersonal, and contextual, and simultaneously includes a pathway for change: reflection, planning, and action.

Read the thesis:

More information:


Laura Schrauwen

  • Service design consultant at Koos

Client/Partner

Publication

Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Design4Health, Amsterdam