Communication of Patient Outcomes (Continuum of Care)

Guidelines:

• SBAR Report to PACU always
  • Standardized
  • “Read back” method
• Call ahead before transfer
  • Especially ICU
  • Transfer is inherently risky
• Updating family – facility policy

Considerations:

• Pathway to handoff – ICU
• Necessary equipment
  • Vent
  • Warmer
  • Parents
• Most relevant information first

Nurse’s role:

• Updates to family in most facilities
• Facilitate conversations with surgeons
• Report from pre-op,to post-op
• Documentation

Pitfalls:

• Too much detail to family
• Report jumbled
  • “I just took over”
• Unknown plan
• Not calling ahead

Examples:

• Calling family “we expected 2 hours but it’s taking a little longer we had trouble getting her to sleep”(!!!! Family gonna freak)

Linchpins (Key Points):

• Surgical events and details needs translation before reporting out of the OR in most instances