I-PASS Institute Launches Partnership with Henry Ford Health to Implement Structured Handoff Communication Across Health System

System-wide engagement expands standardized handoff communication across 11 acute care hospitals, building on proven clinical success

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The I-PASS Patient Safety Institute today announced a partnership with Detroit-based Henry Ford Health, one of the nation’s most recognized health systems, to implement the I-PASS methodology for structured handoff communication across its 11 acute care hospitals, representing approximately 4,600 beds. Henry Ford Health will be first in Michigan to adopt a standardized, evidence-based approach to clinical care transitions at this scale.

Henry Ford Health has long recognized the proven impact of structured handoff communication on patient care. The health system previously piloted the I-PASS methodology at its flagship Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, one of the largest single-site academic medical centers in the region, where consistent use of bedside shift report supported by I-PASS significantly improved patient safety outcomes. To extend that success across all acute care institutions in their system, Henry Ford Health sought the infrastructure to scale reliably. Through this partnership, I-PASS provides a comprehensive operating system including digital tools, implementation templates, expert onsite coaching, and ongoing support to make structured communication a consistent practice across every facility, unit, and shift.

“Standardized handoff communication is a high-impact clinical discipline every patient deserves,” said Dr. Edward W. Pollak, Chief Quality Officer at Henry Ford Health. “We have seen firsthand the impact of a common language supporting care teams to communicate with precision during transitions. Partnering with I-PASS gives us the operating system to make that the standard throughout our entire system. This is about delivering the highest level of care, consistently and at scale, in every hospital we operate.”

Bedside shift report, the practice of conducting nurse-to-nurse handoffs at the patient’s bedside with the patient as an active participant, is widely recognized as both the gold standard and best practice for clinical care. Research consistently demonstrates that when performed effectively, bedside shift report reduces medical errors, improves care team collaboration, and strengthens patient engagement. Despite broad awareness of its impact, sustained implementation of bedside shift reports remains one of the most persistent gaps in healthcare. I-PASS clients consistently close that gap, with one health system achieving a 560% increase in compliance post-implementation. Another client has sustained above 90% compliance with bedside shift reports six years post-implementation, a testament to what structured, supported adoption can make possible.

“The evidence supporting bedside shift report has been clear for years. Sustaining it takes a system behind it – I-PASS equips health system leaders and caregivers with the support and tools to build it into their normal workflow,” said Marshall Burkhart, CEO of the I-PASS Patient Safety Institute. “Henry Ford Health is the first health system in Michigan to adopt this at scale, creating consistency across the organization and raising the standard of care. We are proud to be part of that work.”

Henry Ford Health brings a deep and nationally recognized legacy of patient safety leadership to this work. The organization has received the John M. Eisenberg Patient Safety and Quality Award, the American Hospital Association McKesson Quest for Quality Prize, and the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, among the most rigorous honors in healthcare. This effort also builds on Michigan’s long-standing leadership in healthcare quality improvement, most notably through the MHA Keystone Center’s statewide patient safety collaboratives, which have served as national models for decades. Henry Ford Health’s adoption of I-PASS further reinforces the state’s position at the forefront of clinical innovation and is expected to accelerate broader adoption of structured communication measures across Michigan.

For more information about improving patient safety through better clinical care transitions, please contact [e-mail].

About I-PASS

The I-PASS Patient Safety Institute enables structured communications during clinical care transitions, and as a result, improves both patient safety and clinical outcomes. Founded by clinicians in 2016, the I-PASS Institute leverages expert mentorship paired with technology and digital tools to scale the I-PASS methodology. I-PASS is currently implemented in more than 100 healthcare institutions across the continuum of care. Learn more at www.ipassinstitute.com.