COVID-19

Step 1: What?

What needs to be accomplished? This step goes through how to apply the concept of SBAR – situation, background, assessment, recommendation/request, which prepares the epidemiologist to communicate the situation, background, and recommendation succinctly.

*Corresponds to Quick Implementation Guide Sheet 2: Stp 1 – What SBAR*

The first step is to identify what needs to be accomplished. The concept of SBAR – situation, background, assessment, recommendation/request – can help answer “what.”[i]

SBAR
What is the situation?
What is the background?
What is known (assessment)?
What do you believe needs to be done (recommendation/request)?

[i] Adaptation of AHRQ TeamSTEPPS SBAR (situation, background, assessment, recommendation/request) used to communicate information about a patient needing immediate attention, modified for urgent action for policy/practice changes. SBAR focuses on direct patient care, but its principles are adaptable to the implementation of broader policies and practices in facilities.

Quick Implementation Guide

Sheet 1: Examples

  • Examples from SHEA members: policies, stakeholders, influencers (facilitators and barriers), communications tools, and resources on 22 COVID-19 related topics
    • Not vetted or endorsed by SHEA
    • Suggestions should be considered in the context of facility’s circumstances
    • Included examples may be incompatible with each other
    • Examples are not meant to be comprehensive
  • Sourced from:
    • SHEA Guidelines Committee
    • SHEA Outbreak Response Training Program (ORTP) Advisory Panel, Expert Guidance Panel, and Education Panel of the SHEA Prevention CHKC Program Committee
    • MySHEA

Sheet 2: Stp 1 – What (SBAR)

  • Situation, background, assessment, recommendation
  • Column B pre-populates from ‘Examples’ (Sheet 1), column B
  • For topics relevant to their facility’s circumstances, user enters:
    • Column C: situation, background, assessment
    • Column D: recommendation/likely approach