Free Standard AU & NZ Shipping For All Book Orders Over $80!
Register      Login
Australian Health Review Australian Health Review Society
Journal of the Australian Healthcare & Hospitals Association
RESEARCH ARTICLE

ISBAR for clear communication: one hospital’s experience spreading the message

Monica A. Finnigan A C , Stuart D. Marshall B and Brendan T. Flanagan B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Southern Health, 246 Clayton Road, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia.

B Southern Health, Southern Health Simulation and Skills Centre, PO Box 72, East Bentleigh, VIC 3165, Australia.

C Corresponding author. Email: monica.finnigan@southernhealth.org.au

Australian Health Review 34(4) 400-404 https://doi.org/10.1071/AH09823
Submitted: 11 August 2009  Accepted: 26 November 2009   Published: 25 November 2010

Abstract

All health services rely on efficient and accurate communication between health professionals to ensure safe and effective patient care. Our health service introduced a standardised technique, ISBAR (Identify, Situation, Background, Assessment, Request), for telephone communication. We describe and evaluate the implementation of this project; evaluation was undertaken using program logic mapping. Recommendations for other health services planning to introduce communication tools into routine clinical use are also provided.


References

[1]  Leonard M, Graham S, Bonacum D. The human factor: the critical importance of effective teamwork and communication in providing safe care. Qual Saf Health Care 2004; 13 i85–i90.
The human factor: the critical importance of effective teamwork and communication in providing safe care.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 15465961PubMed |

[2]  Walshe K. Understanding and learning from organisational failure. Qual Saf Health Care 2003; 12 81–2.
Understanding and learning from organisational failure.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD3s7mt1Kkuw%3D%3D&md5=f233114fbb36ba7625276c5a24aa07c4CAS | 12679497PubMed |

[3]  Marcovitch H. Learning from tragedies: clinical lessons from the Climbie Report. Qual Saf Health Care 2003; 12 82–3.
Learning from tragedies: clinical lessons from the Climbie Report.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD3s7mt1Krsg%3D%3D&md5=7290bea811bf98cfb240c6b651a48eb3CAS | 12679498PubMed |

[4]  Singh H, Naik A, Rao R, Petersen L. Reducing diagnostic errors through effective communication: harnessing the power of information technology. J Gen Intern Med 2008; 23 489–94.
Reducing diagnostic errors through effective communication: harnessing the power of information technology.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 18373151PubMed |

[5]  NCEPOD. An acute problem? London: National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death; 2005.

[6]  JCAHO. Sentinel Event Statistics; 2006. Available at www.jointcommission.org/sentinelevents/statistics/ [verified 2 April 2007].

[7]  WHO Communication during patient handovers, Aide Memoire. Patient Safety Solutions 2007; 1 1–4.

[8]  Ciavarella F. Southern Health Risk Management Report 2007–2008: Southern Health; 2008.

[9]  Haig KM, Sutton S, Whittington J. SBAR: a shared model for improving communication between clinicians. J Qual Patient Safety 2006; 32 167–75.

[10]  Hohenhaus S, Powell S, Hohenhaus J.. Enhancing patient safety during handoffs: standardising communication and teamwork using the SBAR method. Am J Nurs 2006; 106 72A–B.

[11]  Denham CR. SBAR for Patients. J Patient Saf 2008; 4 38–48.
SBAR for Patients.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

[12]  Marshall SD, Harrison JC, Flanagan B. The teaching of a structured tool improves the content and clarity of interprofessional clinical communication. Qual Saf Health Care 2009; 18 137–40.
The teaching of a structured tool improves the content and clarity of interprofessional clinical communication.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BD1M3lsFGmsQ%3D%3D&md5=a4e5b1375bc16c0e61aed694e9fc65ccCAS | 19342529PubMed |

[13]  Flanagan B, Harrison JC, Marshall SD. An innovative simulation-based program on patient safety for final year medical students. In: 13th Ottawa International Conference on Clinical Competence; 5–8 March 2008; Melbourne; 2008, pp. 450–7. Abstracts available at http://www.ottawaconference.org/images/stories/downloadable_pdfs/OZZAWA_ABSTRACTS.pdf [verified 3 September 2010].

[14]  PMCV. ISBAR for telephone referrals: education module; 2007. Available at www.pmcv.com.au [verified 13 May 2009].

[15]  Knowlton LW, Phillips CC. The logic model guidebook: better strategies for great results. Singapore: Safe; 2009.

[16]  Brinkerhoff R. The success case method: a strategic evaluation approach to increasing value and effect of training. Adv Dev Hum Resour 2005; 7 86–101.
The success case method: a strategic evaluation approach to increasing value and effect of training.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |