Adapted from Haig, KM, Sutton S, & Whittington, J. (2006). SBAR: A shared mental model for improving communication between clinicians. The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety, 32(3), 167-175. Additional Reference for the Material Enlow, M., Shanks, L., Guhde, J., & Perkins, M. (2010). Incorporating Interprofessional Communication Skills (ISBARR) Into an Undergraduate Nursing Curriculum. Nurse Educator, 35(4), 176-180. doi: 10.1097/NNE.0b013e3181e339ac

ISBARR Communication Tool:

What to Report When Calling the Physician

Before calling the physician:

1. Assess your patient

2. Review assessment data and patient chart considering appropriate physician to notify

3. Know your patient’s admitting medical diagnosis

4. Read and review the most recent physician notes and nurse’s notes

5. Have the patient’s chart in hand and be ready to give the physician the patient’s history,

allergies, code status, I & O, most recent vital signs, lab and diagnostic results, and

current medications

6. Focus on the current problem your patient is experiencing. Be concise and clear when

reporting your assessment to the physician

*Not everything needs to be reported to the physician-just report findings pertinent to your

patient’s current problem. I IDENTIFY State your name, title, and unit S SITUATION I am calling about: (Patient name and room number) The PROBLEM I am calling about is: B BACKGROUND State Admission Diagnosis and Date State pertinent Medical History Give brief synopsis of treatment if pertinent A ASSESSMENT Most recent Vital Signs Changes in Vital Signs or Assessment from Prior Assessment R RECOMMENDATION Say what you think would be helpful or needs to be done for your Patient (labs, medications, x-ray, transfer to ICU, physician evaluation, EKG, Consultant Evaluation) Ask about any Changes in Orders R READ BACK / VERIFY Restate orders you have been given Clarify frequency for assessing VS Under what circumstances do you call physician back