SBAR is a commonly used handover framework tool which is strongly recommended as the format of handover at the University of Alberta Hospital. When applied to General Internal Medicine handover:
S: Reason for referral (RFR), Diagnosis with supporting evidence
B: Precipitating Factor; Pertinent Past Medical History (PMHx), Goals of Care (GOC)
A: How sick are they, any uncertainties
R: Main goal of admission, Plan for main issues
i.e. 43 M with pancreatitis with lipase 4000, likely caused by alcohol. He has a history of pancreatitis in the past with alcoholism. He looks quite well. Issues include:
Pancreatitis: We have given him fluids and made him NPO with pain control. We have asked for an ultrasound abdomen in the morning.
Alcoholism: He is not in withdrawals yet but we have ordered Ativan PRN
ARF: He had a creatinine of 160 from a baseline of 100. We are giving him IV fluids for this.