The use of standardised templates for communication encourages consistency and clarity, whilst supporting processes of care, acting as a record of treatment/decision-making, and reducing duplication/repetition.
Key Information Summary (KIS)
KIS is an electronic template that allows GP surgeries to record agreed key information, on a selected group of patients, for access by other healthcare services.
Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation (SBAR)
SBAR has been widely used by healthcare teams as a focused way of transferring information about a person's condition. It was originally developed by the military to create a reliable, consistent process to share concise, clear, focused information. The aim is to communicate critical information in an understandable way, and SBAR communication is normally brief. Most SBAR templates are around one page of A4, two at most.
Immediate Discharge Letter (IDL)
When a person is discharged after a stay in hospital, essential information is sent to the person’s GP, to allow the GP to continue the person’s care and management. The preparation and sharing of accurate, timely records of care and treatment are central aspects of good clinical practice. The content, structure and production (particularly the timeliness) of discharge documents are critical.
