PASS Medical Acronym
PASS is an acronym used in the medical (Clinical and First Aid) environment for patient handovers.
The Medical acronym PASS is used to describe these four steps.
Structured clinical handover has been shown to reduce communication errors, and to improve patient safety and care, because critical information is more likely to be accurately transferred and acted on.
Key principles for effective clinical handover include: being Focused, Concise, Complete, Organised, and Timely.
PASS Medical
- Patient Summary - Provide a concise overview of the patient, including their diagnosis, current condition, and key treatment
- Action List - Detail any pending tasks, orders, or interventions that need to be completed, including the responsible party and deadline
- Situational Awareness and Contingency Planning - Discuss potential challenges or changes that might occur and outline the steps to manage them
- Show Understanding - The receiving Clinician or Paramedic should summarise and repeat the information to demonstrate accurate understanding of the information
PASS Medical Safety
- When providing First Aid assess the scene to ensure it is safe before you provide help.
- Wear PPE.
- Follow the DRSABCD protocol.
- Call emergency services immediately - every second counts.
PASS Medical and First Aid Training
