SBAR is a communication tool that provides a standardized method for healthcare team members to clearly communicate important patient information. It includes 4 sections: Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendation. The tool aims to improve communication and decrease errors by ensuring all pertinent details are conveyed efficiently. When implemented, SBAR is expected to reduce unnecessary call backs to patients and duplicate tasks between clinical and support staff through more informative information exchanges.

1. SBAR – Improving Communication

2. Situation

3. Background

4. Assessment

5. Recommendation/ ResolutionWhat is SBAR?SBAR is a communication tool that provides a method of clearly communicating the pertinent information from a clinical encounterEmpowers all members of the healthcare team to provide their input into the patient situation including recommendationsAssessment and recommendation phases provide an opportunity for discussion among the members of the health care teamMay not be comfortable at first for either senders or receivers of information

6. Why do we Need SBAR?Situation: poor communication = errors/call backs from clinical and clerical staff to get more information (phone tag)Background:Training on communication styles varyHierarchy - lack of assertivenessDistractions - missing informationAssessment: we need a new communication style that all healthcare professionals can useRecommendation: SBAR is a simple tool that is shown to effectively improved communication that will decrease error and has been effectively applied to healthcare

7. How it will help us?Similar to the SOAP model Standardized approach that promotes efficient transfer of key information Helps create an environment that allows clerical and clinical staff express their concerns

8. What happens now:Multiple tasks created Multiple Quick Texts to pick from

9. Little information exchanged

10. Non-informative information provided

11. Multiple calls from clinical staff to patients to get pertinent information

12. Multiple call backs from patients returning clinical staff’s calls resulting in higher call volumesWhat will happen:1 TaskOnly SBAR communication tool usedMore information taken and provided to the clinical staffImportant parts of phone conversation included in exchangeFewer call backs to patients from Clinical staffFewer call backs from patients to Clinical staff

13. SBAR Guidelines: Step 1(S) Situation: What is the situation you are talking about?Identify self and patient name

14. What is going on with the patient that is a cause for concern. A concise statement of the problemSBAR Guidelines: Step 2(B) Background: What is the clinical background information that is pertinent to the situation?Diagnosis

15. List of current medications & allergies

16. Most recent vital signs