SBAR is an acronym for Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation; a technique that can be used to facilitate prompt and appropriate communication. This communication model has gained popularity in healthcare settings, especially amongst professions such as physicians and nursing. It is a way for health care professionals to communicate effectively with one another, and also allows for important information to be transferred accurately. The format of SBAR allows for short, organized and predictable flow of information between professionals.

Related to:

• SOAP notes

Hospital doctors who write letters directly to patients have more patient centred consultations and experience smoother handovers with other members of their teams. Read this practical advice on how to construct letters to be sent directly to patients

APA guidelines