N

U
M
M
CO

R1
A
5
1
B
S UR
N

N
O
I
T
A
C
I

COMMUNICATION HANDOFFS

SBAR
IS AN EFFECTIVE TOOL FOR ALL TYPES OF COMMUNICATION
HANDOFFS BY ELIMINATING DIFFERENCE IN COMMUNICATION STYLES

SITUATION
State: your name and unit
I am calling about :: (Patient name & room number,
age/gender)
The problem: The reason I am calling

BACKGROUND
BRIEF, RELATED, TO THE POINT
State admission diagnosis and date of admission
State the pertinent medical history
A brief summary of the treatment to date

ASSESSMENT
Pertinent objective & subjective information
What you found, what you think
How is the patient now

Most recent vital signs

Mental status
Respiratory rate, and quality
B/P, pulse rate, & quality
Pain
Neuro changes
Skin color

RECOMMENDATION
State what you would like to see done:
Change the treatment?
If a change in treatment ordered ask: How often?
Come to see the patient at this time?
Talk with the patient and family about?
Transfer the patient?
Ask: If the patient does not improve, when would you like to
be called again?

RECOMMENDATION
Other suggestions
CXR
CBC
EKG
Labs
Medication
Other

SBARR
SITUATION: The problem
BACKGROUND: should be brief, relevant, to the point
ASSESSMENT: what you found, what you think
RECOMMENDATION: what you want to be done
READ-BACK!!!!!!!