Which standard addresses safe transfer of care?

• A. Documentation
• B. Transfer of Care
• C. Infection Control and Prevention
• D. Wellness

Answer: (B)

Safe transfer of care centers on ensuring clear, complete, and timely handoff communications during every transition of responsibility. The standard addressing this is the Transfer of Care standard, which defines who communicates, when the handoff happens, and what information must be conveyed and confirmed. It promotes a structured handoff process and the use of standardized formats so the receiving team clearly understands the patient’s current status, planned care, and any contingencies. In anesthesia practice, this is crucial when moving patients from the operating room to the recovery area or to another service, because important details like airway status, ventilation plan, analgesia, hemodynamics, IV lines, allergies, and pending tasks must be accurately transferred. Other areas like Documentation, Infection Control and Prevention, and Wellness have important roles, but they don’t specify the handoff process and accountability that safely transfers care.