By 
Dr. Abdalla Ibrahim 
Accreditation Specialist, Healthcare Surveyor 
Email: abdallaibrahim@hotmail.com 
2014.
Communication 
 
 From Latin commūnicāre, meaning "to share“. 
 Communication is the activity of conveying 
information through the exchange of ideas, feelings, 
intentions, attitudes, expectations, perceptions or 
commands, as by speech, non-verbal gestures, 
writings, behavior and possibly by other means such 
as electromagnetic, chemical or physical phenomena 
and smell.
Effective Communication 
 
 Effective communication is not only about conveying 
a message that you want to say. It is about 
conveying the message so that other people 
understand and respond to it.
Assumptions & Hints 

Vagueness & shortage of data. 

Ineffective Communication 

?? What we need for 
Effective Communication 
 
 Mechanism (established processes): to frame 
conversations 
 Tool (distinct design) to share concise and focused 
information. 
 Standard of Communication 
 Indicator of Effective Communication
Situation, Background, 
Assessment and Recommendation
Why SBAR 
 
 An effective mechanism to close the traditional 
hierarchy between doctors and other care givers 
 A common language platform for communicating 
critical events, thereby reducing barriers to 
communication between healthcare professionals.
Why SBAR 
 
 A shared mental tool around all patient handovers 
and situations requiring escalation, or critical 
exchange of information.
Why SBAR 
 
 A standardized well structured 4-steps method 
 It clarifies WHAT and HOW information should be 
communicated.
Why SBAR 
 
 Easy to remember mechanism that you can use to 
frame conversations, especially critical ones, 
requiring a clinician's immediate attention and 
action.
Situation, Background, 
Assessment and Recommendation

S: Situation 
 
 Identify yourself the site/unit you are calling from 
 Identify the patient by name and the reason for your 
report 
 Describe your concern
S: Situation 
 
 Firstly, describe the specific circumstances about 
which you are calling, including: 
 the patient's name 
 patient location 
 code status
B: Background 
 
 Give the patient's reason for admission 
 Explain significant medical history
B: Background 
 
 Inform the consultant of the patient's background: 
 date of admission 
 admitting diagnosis 
 prior procedures 
 vital signs. 
 current medications 
 Allergies 
 laboratory results and diagnostic results.
A: Assessment 
 
 Contraction pattern 
 Clinical impressions, concerns (what might be the 
underlying reason for your patient's condition)
R: Recommendation 
 
 Explain what you need - be specific about request 
and time frame 
 Make suggestions 
 Clarify expectations 
 Finally, what would you like to happen by the end of 
the conversation with the physician?
When to Use SBAR 
 
 Urgent or non urgent communications 
 Nurse to doctor communications 
 Doctor to doctor consultation 
 Conversations with peers 
 Change of shift report 
 Rising a concern 
 Discussions with allied health professionals 
- Respiratory therapy 
- Physiotherapy
What is in SBAR for US 

SBAR at the Personal Level 
 
 : Communicate forcefully and effectively; Self- 
Confidence 
 Close the traditional hierarchy between staffs; 
Relaxed Work life 
 Encourage assessment skills; Positive Participation 
 Staff anticipate the information needed by 
colleagues; Trust building.
SBAR at the Information Level 
 
 Reducing repetition. 
 The right level of detail. 
 The right sequence of flow. 
 Concise and focused information.
SBAR at the Organization Level 
 
 To foster a culture of patient safety. 
 To develop effective communication and teamwork 
 Easy to remember and can reduce the time spent on 
patient handover. 
 An ROP (Required Organizational Practice) 
requested by Accreditation Canada International
References 
 
 http://www.ihi.org/resources/Pages/Tools/SBARToolkit.aspx 
 http://www.institute.nhs.uk/quality_and_service_improvement_tools/quality_and_servi 
ce_improvement_tools/sbar_-_situation_-_background_-_assessment_- 
_recommendation.html 
 http://www.institute.nhs.uk/safer_care/safer_care/situation_background_assessment_re 
commendation.html 
 http://www.health.mil/Military-Health-Topics/Access-Cost-Quality-and-Safety/Quality- 
And-Safety-of-Healthcare/Patient-Safety/Patient-Safety-Products-And-Services/Order- 
Patient-Safety-Materials 
 http://www.health.mil/~/media/MHS/General%20Images/PSMaterials/SBAR_POSTE 
R_border.ashx 
 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communication

SBAR communication model in healthcare organization

  • 1.
    By Dr. AbdallaIbrahim Accreditation Specialist, Healthcare Surveyor Email: abdallaibrahim@hotmail.com 2014.
  • 2.
    Communication  From Latin commūnicāre, meaning "to share“.  Communication is the activity of conveying information through the exchange of ideas, feelings, intentions, attitudes, expectations, perceptions or commands, as by speech, non-verbal gestures, writings, behavior and possibly by other means such as electromagnetic, chemical or physical phenomena and smell.
  • 3.
    Effective Communication   Effective communication is not only about conveying a message that you want to say. It is about conveying the message so that other people understand and respond to it.
  • 4.
  • 5.
  • 6.
  • 7.
    ?? What weneed for Effective Communication   Mechanism (established processes): to frame conversations  Tool (distinct design) to share concise and focused information.  Standard of Communication  Indicator of Effective Communication
  • 8.
  • 9.
    Why SBAR   An effective mechanism to close the traditional hierarchy between doctors and other care givers  A common language platform for communicating critical events, thereby reducing barriers to communication between healthcare professionals.
  • 10.
    Why SBAR   A shared mental tool around all patient handovers and situations requiring escalation, or critical exchange of information.
  • 11.
    Why SBAR   A standardized well structured 4-steps method  It clarifies WHAT and HOW information should be communicated.
  • 12.
    Why SBAR   Easy to remember mechanism that you can use to frame conversations, especially critical ones, requiring a clinician's immediate attention and action.
  • 13.
  • 14.
  • 15.
    S: Situation   Identify yourself the site/unit you are calling from  Identify the patient by name and the reason for your report  Describe your concern
  • 16.
    S: Situation   Firstly, describe the specific circumstances about which you are calling, including:  the patient's name  patient location  code status
  • 17.
    B: Background   Give the patient's reason for admission  Explain significant medical history
  • 18.
    B: Background   Inform the consultant of the patient's background:  date of admission  admitting diagnosis  prior procedures  vital signs.  current medications  Allergies  laboratory results and diagnostic results.
  • 19.
    A: Assessment   Contraction pattern  Clinical impressions, concerns (what might be the underlying reason for your patient's condition)
  • 20.
    R: Recommendation   Explain what you need - be specific about request and time frame  Make suggestions  Clarify expectations  Finally, what would you like to happen by the end of the conversation with the physician?
  • 21.
    When to UseSBAR   Urgent or non urgent communications  Nurse to doctor communications  Doctor to doctor consultation  Conversations with peers  Change of shift report  Rising a concern  Discussions with allied health professionals - Respiratory therapy - Physiotherapy
  • 22.
    What is inSBAR for US 
  • 23.
    SBAR at thePersonal Level   : Communicate forcefully and effectively; Self- Confidence  Close the traditional hierarchy between staffs; Relaxed Work life  Encourage assessment skills; Positive Participation  Staff anticipate the information needed by colleagues; Trust building.
  • 24.
    SBAR at theInformation Level   Reducing repetition.  The right level of detail.  The right sequence of flow.  Concise and focused information.
  • 25.
    SBAR at theOrganization Level   To foster a culture of patient safety.  To develop effective communication and teamwork  Easy to remember and can reduce the time spent on patient handover.  An ROP (Required Organizational Practice) requested by Accreditation Canada International
  • 29.
    References  http://www.ihi.org/resources/Pages/Tools/SBARToolkit.aspx  http://www.institute.nhs.uk/quality_and_service_improvement_tools/quality_and_servi ce_improvement_tools/sbar_-_situation_-_background_-_assessment_- _recommendation.html  http://www.institute.nhs.uk/safer_care/safer_care/situation_background_assessment_re commendation.html  http://www.health.mil/Military-Health-Topics/Access-Cost-Quality-and-Safety/Quality- And-Safety-of-Healthcare/Patient-Safety/Patient-Safety-Products-And-Services/Order- Patient-Safety-Materials  http://www.health.mil/~/media/MHS/General%20Images/PSMaterials/SBAR_POSTE R_border.ashx  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communication