The interdepartmental ticket (IT) factor: enhancing communication to improve quality.

This article presents the implementation and 1-year evaluation of a staff nurse-driven initiative addressing a Joint Commission patient safety imperative to improve the consistency of handoff communication. An interdepartmental ticket was developed and implemented through a planned process. The interdepartmental ticket serves as a requisite passport for providing key communication of critical information to facilitate a safe transition between medical-surgical and progressive care nursing units and specific ancillary departments.