What type of report must be completed following a handoff?

The appropriate report that must be completed following a handoff is the After-Action Report (AAR). An AAR is a structured review or debriefing that focuses on the performance of personnel or processes during a specific event or situation. It captures useful information on what occurred, what went well, and what could be improved, making it a valuable tool for learning and enhancing future performance.

In the context of handoffs, an AAR is crucial as it allows medical personnel to discuss the transfer of care, ensuring all critical patient information and treatment plans are communicated effectively. This debriefing process promotes accountability and checks for understanding among team members, ultimately contributing to better patient outcomes.

Although an incident report, patient care report, and assessment report serve important functions within medical documentation, they differ in purpose from the specific focus of an AAR, which is to evaluate and improve practices through reflection and feedback following a transitional phase in patient care.