17.09.2026

Day 4 – Transfers

Transfers: a critical moment for patient safety

This article is part of our series dedicated to International Patient Safety Week 2026, which focuses on non-communicable diseases. You can find all the articles from this week here.

Yesterday, we discussed the active role of patients. Today, we are focusing on the moment when responsibility passes from one department to another: the transfer. Admission to hospital, discharge, or transfer to another facility. It is precisely at these junctures that many of the risks associated with care arise, but also where the best opportunity lies to avoid them.

Five principles for a secure transfer

Completeness takes precedence over speed.

A quick but incomplete transfer requires more effort than it saves.

Patient involvement.

Patients need to understand their treatment and the next steps.

Clear responsibilities.

At each handover point, it is important to clearly identify who is responsible.

The right moment.

A transfer must take place in good time, not after the event.

The right channel of communication.

In complex cases, written documentation is often not enough. A brief verbal discussion can help to fill in the gaps.

Admission to the clinic: what to bring

Current and suspected diagnoses, including the reason for admission
A complete list of medications and their dosages
Allergies and intolerances
Relevant medical history: previous operations, chronic conditions, complications
Tests already carried out and their results, to avoid duplication of tests
Contact details of the attending doctor
Social factors influencing treatment, such as living alone, language barriers or the need for support
Advance directives

Discharge from hospital: what needs to be sent

Forward the discharge report in a timely manner to the patient’s GP or the doctor responsible for their follow-up care, ideally on the day of discharge
In the event of transfer to another hospital: significant events that occurred during the stay and the patient’s general condition on discharge
Changes to treatment clearly communicated: what has been added, stopped or altered, and why
Next practical steps: who does what, and by when
Warning signs: when should patients get in touch again, and with whom?
A clear explanation for the patient: what has been done, what will happen next, and which medicines have been changed
A clearly designated contact person until the first appointment with the GP