Handover Notes

Effective patient handover ensures continuity of care and patient safety.

ISBAR — A Standard Handover Framework

I — Identification

• Your name and designation
• Patient name, age, hospital number
• Ward and bed number

S — Situation

• Current diagnosis
• Reason for admission
• Current status (stable, deteriorating, critical)

B — Background

• Relevant medical history
• Allergies
• Significant events during admission
• Investigations done and results

A — Assessment

• Your clinical assessment
• Current vitals and trends
• Concerns or pending issues

R — Recommendation

• Plan for next shift
• Pending investigations
• Medications due
• Specific monitoring required

Key Principles

• Handover should be face-to-face when possible
• Use a structured format consistently
• Highlight sick or unstable patients
• Clearly communicate tasks to be completed
• Avoid distractions during handover
• Document the handover
• Allow time for questions