Author:
Kai Knudsen
Updated:
7 October, 2024
SBAR is a communication tool used for reporting situations in healthcare. It involves systematically reporting patients based on the Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendations for further management.
SBAR
SBAR is an internationally established communication tool for reporting situations in healthcare. It is a simple and effective way to communicate in a structured manner, especially in situations with critically ill patients or at critical moments when immediate attention is needed. The most influential organizations for medical quality and patient safety actively work to use SBAR in healthcare. SBAR can also be used during situations such as cardiac arrest treatment, trauma management, handling patients with failing vital functions, or reporting anesthesia during ongoing surgical operations.
S = Situation
B = Background
A = Assessment
R = Recommendation
Information transfer becomes safer when following SBAR in situations where you:
– Need to report a patient
– Call for the on-call doctor
– Transfer a patient to another care unit
– Or whenever you feel it is necessary
Always start your report by introducing yourself and saying: “I am reporting according to SBAR.”
Situation
State your name and unit. The patient’s name and personal number. Presentation of the situation/problem that prompted the contact. Concerns for safety are always a reason for contact and should be clearly expressed. What is the reason for contact? What problem worries you?
Background
Brief and relevant medical history. Objective background information that is relevant to the situation and explains the circumstances leading to the situation. Provides the listener/reader with the opportunity to put the problem in context. Provide a short health history and overall view of the situation. Alerts/treatment limitations. Previous or current significant illnesses. Specify where in the operation or procedure we are.
Assessment
Summary of the most important facts in the current situation along with an attempt at a reasonable interpretation of the information. I believe the problem is… or I do not know what the problem is, but… You may specify A: Airway B: Breathing, saturation C: Stable, unstable, BP, pulse, bleeding. D: Consciousness, anesthesia or sedation depth, pain relief. E: Intravenous lines, fluid balance, catheter, urine production, TOF, temperature, skin, positioning, drains. Other: patient-specific details, lab results, ongoing medications.
Recommendation
Recommendation to the listener about what actions they should take, possibly a complete plan. A suggestion from the sender on what could fix the problem. Provide a suggestion – on what you think should be done, or – on what kind of support or action you need, or – for the continued care. Future planning, orders, tests, examinations, recovery. End by seeking confirmation by asking: Do you have any further questions? Are we in agreement?
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