Clinical Handover Policy

Applicable to: This Policy applies to all Health Service Providers to the extent that they provide inpatient care, and Contracted Health Entities to the extent that this Policy forms part of their contract.

Description: Clinical handover is an explicit transfer of information supporting the transfer of clinical accountability and responsibility between healthcare professionals to enable continuity of care for the patient.

The objective of the Clinical Handover Policy (the Policy) is to ensure clinical handover is conducted in a similarly structured manner across WA Health Service Providers. The requirements of this Policy are supported by the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards (2nd ed.), Standard 6 Communicating for Safety Standard.

This Policy is a mandatory requirement under the Clinical Governance, Safety and Quality Policy Framework and supersedes OD 0484/14 Clinical Handover Policy.

Date of effect: 18 October 2018

Policy Framework

Supporting information