ISBAR
Medical abbreviation · Medical Documentation
| Stands for | Identify, Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
ISBAR stands for Identify, Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation, a medical documentation abbreviation.
Handoff format that adds identification of the speaker, patient and location before the SBAR elements. It is widely used in Australian and some UK and Irish hospitals.
Example: ISBAR: I'm RN Smith on 4B calling about bed 12, Mr Jones; situation: new chest pain.
Usage notes
Starting with identification prevents confusion about who is calling and which patient is meant, particularly by phone. Some versions expand R to "read back" or "recommendation and request". Australian health departments have incorporated ISBAR into clinical handover standards.
Related abbreviations
More medical documentation abbreviations
- HOPI – History of presenting illness
- HPI – History of present illness
- Hx – History
- I-PASS – Illness severity, Patient summary, Action list, Situation awareness…
- ICE – Ideas, concerns, expectations
- Imp – Impression
- IVDA – Intravenous drug abuse
- IVDU – Intravenous drug use
- Ix – Investigations
- LOS – Length of stay
- MDM – Medical decision making
- MRN – Medical record number
See all 79 medical documentation abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.