Escalating Concerns (NEWS(2) & SBARD)

Week 1

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tab_thumb.png Context

'Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation' known as an 'SBAR' is a communications tool that is used to help frame conversations. The SBAR tool can also be used by members of the healthcare team as a focused way of transferring information about a patient's condition.

Why use SBAR?

  • To reduce the barrier to effective communication across different disciplines and levels of staff.
  • SBAR creates a shared mental model around all patient handoffs and situations requiring escalation, or critical exchange of information (handovers)
  • SBAR is memory prompt; easy to remember and encourages prior preparation for communication
  • SBAR reduces the incidence of missed communications

tab_thumb.png Content

Background

"Michael Leonard, MD, Physician Leader for Patient Safety, along with colleagues Doug Bonacum and Suzanne Graham at Kaiser Permanente of Colorado (Evergreen, Colorado, USA) developed this technique. The SBAR technique has been implemented widely at health systems such as Kaiser Permanente" (Institute for Healthcare Improvement, 2014)

The tool consists of standardised prompt questions within four sections, to ensure that staff are sharing concise and focused information. It allows staff to communicate assertively and effectively, reducing the need for repetition. The tool helps staff anticipate the information needed by colleagues and encourages assessment skills. Using SBAR prompts staff to formulate information with the right level of detail.

The increasing review into patient safety generally, required health care workers to find ways of communicating effectively, but also to be able to pass information in a quick and accurate way, especially when under stress in a critical situation, or when work is very busy.

 

SBAR in Action

The following short video shows two members of the School of Health & Social Care demonstrating the SBAR Tool in a paediatric setting. You will see Matt trying to escalate his concerns about a patient, first without any tool, and then using the SBAR Report.

The SBAR form used in the video is a standard Download NHS Form

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tab_thumb.png References and Further Reading

Beckett, CD. & Kipnis, G. (2009) Collaborative Communication: Integrating SBAR to improve quality/ Patient Safety outcomes Links to an external site.. Journal for Healthcare Quality Vol. 31, No. 5, pp. 19–28

Haig, KM.; Sutton, S; Whittington, J. (2006) SBAR: A Shared Mental Model for Improving Communication Between Clinicians. Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety, Volume 32, Number 3, March 2006, pp. 167-175

Institute for Healthcare Improvement (2014) SBAR Technique for Communication: A Situational Briefing Model [WWW] http://www.ihi.org/resources/Pages/Tools/SBARTechniqueforCommunicationASituationalBriefingModel.aspx Links to an external site.

National Health Service Wales (2011) Improving Clinical Communication using SBAR Links to an external site.. National Health Service Wales