8 Communication, Handover, and Follow-Up Free Online FlashCards

What should a clear clinical update make explicit?

State what is known, what remains uncertain, what should happen next, who is responsible, and when reassessment is needed.

What does SBAR stand for?

Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation.

How should a clinician explain a differential diagnosis?

Name the leading possibility, important alternatives that could change management, and evidence for or against them. State uncertainty rather than presenting a working diagnosis as confirmed.

How can a clinician check a patient's understanding of the plan?

Ask the patient to describe the plan in their own words. This can reveal misunderstandings.

How should documentation distinguish evidence from diagnosis?

Distinguish observed facts from interpretations or provisional diagnoses. Do not imply a condition is excluded when the evaluation only makes it less likely.

What should documentation specify about pending test results?

Record which results are pending, who will review and communicate them, and the agreed plan for doing so.

When should care be escalated?

Escalate for deterioration, a time-critical concern, a serious possibility that cannot safely be excluded, or needs beyond the current setting's expertise or resources.

What is closed-loop communication?

The receiver repeats or confirms the message, and the sender verifies that it was understood.

What are the five elements of I-PASS?

Illness severity, Patient summary, Action list, Situation awareness and contingency plans, and Synthesis by receiver.

What must a handover clarify about outstanding tasks?

Make ownership of every outstanding task explicit so it is clear who is responsible for completing it.

When and how should a patient be reassessed?

Reassess after important interventions and before transfer or discharge by comparing symptoms, examination, and relevant observations with the initial state.

What factors should guide disposition?

Match disposition to the patient's current condition, remaining risks, response to treatment, and reliability of the proposed next step.