THE SBAR COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
The SBAR (ie, situation, background, assessment, recommendation) communication technique provides a standardized framework for communication between members of the health care team about a patient’s condition.4 The SBAR technique is an easy-to-remember, concrete mechanism useful for framing a conversation, especially a critical one that requires a clinician’s immediate attention and action. It provides a focused way to set expectations for what will be communicated and how it will be communicated between members of the team, which is essential for developing teamwork and fostering a culture of patient safety.
The SBAR communication technique consists of four components. • Situation—What is going on with the patient? Identify yourself and the patient. State the problem.
• Background—What is the background on this patient? Review the chart before speaking up if the situation allows the time. Anticipate questions the other care provider may have.
• Assessment—Provide your observations and evaluations of the patient’s current state.
• Recommendation—Make an informed suggestion based on sound information for the continued care of the patient.6(p187) Operationalizing the SBAR technique during the perioperative period can help minimize patient safety risks.
OPERATIONALIZING SBAR
Errors can occur when a procedure is scheduled, when care providers are obtaining the patient’s history and performing the preoperative physical examination, during the informed consent process, and when a care provider is documenting care provided at any point in the surgical process. The SBAR technique helps prevent errors by providing a standardized approach for perioperative staff members to use as a patient
• is prepared for the OR;
• undergoes an operative or other invasive procedure; and
• phase I recovery (ie, the immediate postoperative period during which the patient regains physiological