Template: Handover and reporting of abnormal findings
How the interview reveals what the employer really wants
If you discover something during an examination that looks unusual or acute — e.g. a very irregular heart rhythm or a patient who reacts strongly — you must deliver the observation in a structured and timely manner. This template helps you include the most important information.
§What you should hand over
- 01Patient's identity and which examination was performed.
- 02What you have observed — describe objectively, without making a diagnosis.
- 03When the observation was made (time).
- 04Whether the patient was, or appeared to be, affected by the finding (e.g. unwell, pain, change in consciousness).
- 05What you have already done (e.g. repeated the recording, called for help).
| Field | Filled in with. |
|---|---|
| Patient | Name/CPR or identifier according to department routine |
| Examination. | E.g. ECG, EEG, audiometry |
| Time of discovery | Time of day |
| Observation | Objective description of the unusual finding |
| Patient's condition | E.g. unaffected / uncomfortable / acutely affected |
| Action performed | E.g. repeated measurement, called doctor/nurse |
| Handed over to | Name/function of the professional who was informed |
§Why structured handover matters
A known rule of thumb for a pleasant gait pattern is that 2 × rise + run should be around 610–630 mm. The rule is based on the natural stride length an average person walks with and is used to determine the correct ratio between rise and run when a staircase is to be projected.