oa Institutionalize Patient Related Communication in the Emergency Department of Hamad General Hospital through the Use of Sbar Communication Pattern

Introduction

Sbar is a techinique that can be used to facilitate prompt and appropriate communication. It is a way for healthcare proffessionals to communicate effectively. The sbar tool is a memory prompt which helps the medical staff handover, prepare information just before handing over the required details/outcomes/result of the concerned patient from one shift to another shift duty incharge.

Aim/objectives

To increase and starndardize the usage of sbar as a communication tool among the clinical staff in the emergency department of hamad general hospital to 100% by feb 2016.

Methods

The project was done in an iterative four-step continuos improvement method through careful monitoring in various areas of ed to collect the baseline data. Sbar champ were chosen from each area to facilitate & coordinate the project to most of emergency dept. Sbar endorsement form was introduced for the nurses between shifts to notify information. Champion docs, nurse educators & quality reviewers decided on educational sessions to the ed-nurses & physicians. Educational sessions consisted of role play, scenario based and simulation training for the nurses & doctorsto make them understand the relevance of sbar. A monitoring tool was developed for “secret audit” on sbar usage.

Results/outcomes

There has been a spike in the usage of sbar by the nurses & doctors during the endorsement time and between the work schedule. With the help of the charge nurses and sbar champions who regularly change from day to day, careful monitoring has been placed in various areas of the emergency department which has led to such significant achievement. As of now the measurement and the testing has been done with the nurses, physicians, ecg technicians, respiratory therapists and also the quality reviewers. We are soon planning to include ems for the same training and by end of june, we will make sure the whole emergency dept will be talking & reporting in sbar.

Conclusions

Interproffesional communication activity is needed at the entry level for all proffesionals.Sbar is a teachable skill that is recognized by all healthcare workers as a safe effective method of communicating among providers. We will soon spread this communication between units & during transfers also.