Clinical handover and SBAR
Clinical handover is defined as the transfer of professional responsibility and accountability for some or all aspects of care for a patient, or groups of patients, to another person or professional group on a temporary or permanent basis.1
Clinical handover is a high risk area for patient safety.
The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care states the importance of the right information being given and understood by the right people at the right time, and how this is critical for patient safety during the handover process.2
A structured, standardised approach to clinical handover ensures:
- information provided is thorough and reduces the likelihood of missed data
- expectations are set for what will be communicated
- the recommendation provided is clear and professional
- confidence in communication
- the focus is not on the people who are communicating but on the problem itself.2
SBAR
SBAR is one communication tool that can assist with providing an effective verbal handover. It provides a structured approach for the delivery of information in a clear and concise manner.
S
Situation
What is the immediate situation?
- Identify yourself, your unit, the patient, and the room number.
- Briefly state the problem.
B
Background
What led to this situation?
- What was the admitting diagnosis and the date of admission?
- What are the patient's allergies, IV fluids and current medications?
- Provide a brief history.
- What is the current treatment?
A
Assessment
What do you think the problem is?
- Explain your assessment of the patient and how you came to this assessment: e.g. stable/ deteriorating.
R
Recommendation/ Request
What do you recommend should happen next?
I would like you to:
- review/ see the patient now
- perform/ review tests.
SBAR
SBAR is one communication tool that can assist with providing an effective verbal handover. It provides a structured approach for the delivery of information in a clear and concise manner.
S
Situation
What is the immediate situation?
- Identify yourself, your unit, the patient, and the room number.
- Briefly state the problem.
B
Background
What led to this situation?
- What was the admitting diagnosis and the date of admission?
- What are the patient's allergies, IV fluids and current medications?
- Provide a brief history.
- What is the current treatment?
A
Assessment
What do you think the problem is?
Explain your assessment of the patient and how you came to this assessment e.g. stable/ deteriorating
R
Recommendation/ Request
What do you recommend should happen next?
I would like you to:
- review/ see the patient now
- perform/ review tests.
SBAR
SBAR is one communication tool that can assist with providing an effective verbal handover. It provides a structured approach for the delivery of information in a clear and concise manner.
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SBAR Handover video
The following video demonstrates a midwife providing an SBAR clinical handover of a patient with ????? to a medical registrar. The video is from the medical registrar's point of view.
(insert video)
1. Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards. Sydney. Commonwealth of Australia. September 2012. Available from:
https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/NSQHS-Standards-Sept-2012.pdf
2.Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care. OSSIE guide to Clinical Handover Improvement. Sydney, ACSQHC 2010 Available from: https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/ossie.pdf
