[Structured patient handover in high-risk areas : Evidence and recommendations for the practical implementation]

Area of Science:

• Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine
• Patient Safety

Context:

• Perioperative environments are high-risk for communication errors.
• The German Society for Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine (DGAI) updated recommendations in March 2022.
• Structured communication tools are often studied within broader patient safety initiatives.

Purpose:

• To highlight the importance of structured communication in the perioperative setting.
• To endorse the Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation (SBAR) template for improved handovers.
• To emphasize the need for standardization in implementing communication tools.

Summary:

• The Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation (SBAR) approach offers a guideline for team communication, enhancing handover quality.
• Standardized workflows are crucial for consistent SBAR template use, identifying and resolving communication barriers.
• A shared understanding and training in SBAR techniques foster a culture of patient safety.

Impact:

• Improved quality of patient handovers in high-risk perioperative settings.
• Identification and mitigation of common communication barriers.
• Establishment of a patient safety culture through interprofessional teamwork and leadership support.