Which framework is specifically designed to improve communication during patient handoffs?

• A. SBAR
• B. SOAP
• C. POMR
• D. ISBAR

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is using a structured way to communicate during patient handoffs so important information isn’t missed and the next team knows exactly what to do. SBAR provides a concise sequence—Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation—that prompts the sender to quickly state what’s happening, the relevant history, the current assessment, and what is being requested or recommended. This clarity helps reduce miscommunication, sets a shared expectation for what information needs to be exchanged, and makes it easier for the receiving clinician to take appropriate action or ask focused questions.

Other options are related to medical documentation rather than handoffs. SOAP is a charting format (Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan) used for documenting patient encounters, not specifically designed to guide a shift-to-shift handoff. POMR organizes notes around problems in the medical record, not a handoff protocol. ISBAR is a variation that adds an Introduction to SBAR, used in some settings, but the classic framework specifically designed to streamline and standardize patient handoffs is SBAR.