Implementing an SBAR communication protocol: A quality improvement project

Primary care providers and nurses in the long-term care setting both acknowledge that a lack of quality communication between parties regarding a resident's change in medical condition can result in avoidable, unnecessary hos-pitalizations of residents, placing them at risk for dangerous and costly complications. The timing, clarity, and content of information, as well as the nurse's ability to synthesize and communicate key clinical information to the primary care provider, are key determinants of these outcomes. SBAR is a communication tool that provides a systematic approach for nurses to assess and record change in resident status. A quality improvement project based on the use of the SBAR protocol was implemented in the long-term care setting. The authors provide a preliminary report of the uptake of the intervention and its effect on unplanned hospital transfer rates.