Using a structured process for patient assessment and triage to reduce ambulance handover delays and enhance patient outcomes

Ambulance handover between ambulance personnel and emergency department (ED) staff, most often nurses, is a time-critical and complex event that should take place within 15 minutes of the ambulance arriving at the hospital site. However, in recent years there has been an increase in ambulance handover delays, potentially resulting in patient harm. Providing a consistent service to maximise the safety and effectiveness of ambulance handovers is an essential function of all EDs and, increasingly, of acute hospital assessment areas. This article discusses some of the ways in which ambulance handover delays can be addressed, such as using a structured communication tool, and provides an overview of a contemporary standardised approach to initial assessment in the ED that aims to reduce ambulance delays and enhance patient outcomes. The article aims to equip nurses who are responsible for ambulance handovers and initial patient assessments with examples of best practice to support their clinical decision-making and guide clinical practice.