The Use of the SBAR Tool for Communication in Sleep-Deprived Alzheimer’s Patients

Voiceover

Presenter(s)

Andrea Demers

Abstract or Description

Patient safety is at the forefront of health care delivery. Based on the significant amount of research on sleep-deprived AD patients, providers must understand how to identify and communicate its existence in hand-off communication and from nurses to the provider. In long-term care, providers are not at facilities daily and rely heavily on nursing staff to provide efficient and accurate information over the phone. Reductions in medication errors, readmission rates, and improvements in family and staff satisfaction, patient safety, and outcomes are at the hallmark of exceptional care.

The study facility experienced a Department of Health (DOH) infraction for failing to promptly report a patient’s change in condition. Therefore, implementing the SBAR tool in the long-term care arena could provide the missing link in improved outcomes and patient safety.

Keywords: SBAR tool, nurse to provider communication, EHR