What is a Patient Handoff? The handing off of a dental patient from one team member to another. From the moment a patient enters the office till the moment they leave, that patient is really under the supervision of a team member. The patient should be "handed off" between team members as they progress through the dental experience. This shows the patient you care and helps them to feel safe and trusting in your team. Our Patient Handoff Overview guide goes through this step-by-step.