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. Implementing SBAR can help create fewer tasks, calls, and call backs as a result of more informative information being exchanged in a consistent format between clinical and support staff.

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

17. Lab results: provide the date and time test was done and results of previous tests for comparison

18. Medical history

19. Recent clinical findingsSBAR Guidelines: Step 3(A)Assessment: Share the results of your clinical assessmentWhat are the clinician’s findings?

20. What is the analysis and consideration of options?

21. Is this problem severe or life threatening?SBAR Guidelines: Step 4(R) Recommendation:What do you want to happen and by when? What action/recommendation is needed to correct the problem?

22. What solution can you offer the physician?

23. What do you need from the physician to improve the patient’s condition?

24. In what time frame do you expect this action to take place?Example: Parent of a patient calls “Hi, I am calling in regards to my son, GeorgiePorgie, DOB: 1/12/05. He has had diarrhea for about 4 days now and when he woke up this morning he had a fever of about 101.2. I would like to speak to a nurse about this if they are available.”

25. Using SBAR in Quick Text S (Situation) – Mom, Marge Porgie, would like to speak with a triage nurse. Pt has had diarrhea for 4 days and woke up this morning with a fever of 101. B (Background) – Spoke with a nurse on 1/25 in regards to diarrhea.A (Assessment) – Information sent to Triage for evaluation.R (Recommendation) – Please call back mom at cell # 555-5555.

26. Dr. Levine would like to have Mary Contrary, who was seen for a physical today, to come back into the office in 2-3 months for a weight follow up. Please use SBAR to send a task to the Secretarial task list so that they can call this patient to set up the appointment.Nurses:

27. Secretaries: The mother of Elsie Marley calls with a request for labs that were done on 1/23/10. She is not at home but will have her cell phone with her, 555-0000.Please use SBAR to send a task to the support staff so that they can call the patient back.

28. Any Questions??