Interprofessional

Communication

Dr. Margo Whitehead

PGY1 Pharmacy Resident | IUH Ball Memorial
 Define
• Define interprofessional communication and the following
communication tools:
• SBAR
• CUS
• Check-Back
• Motivational Interviewing

Learning Implement
• Implement one communication tool to facilitate discussions and

Objectives interactions that enhance team function.

Indicate
• Indicate when it is appropriate to modify word choice or phrasing –
specifically, avoiding use of discipline-specific terminology – to
enhance understanding.
Identify
• Identify a pharmacist’s role in a patient care team pertaining to
common understanding of information, treatment, care decisions,
and population health programs and policies.
The What: Interprofessional Communication

Definition1: The sharing of information between two or more

health professionals to positively impact patient care

Written, verbal, or nonverbal In person vs. Electronic

The Why: Patient Safety

Healthcare is complex

• Many moving parts

• Lots of opportunities for error

Differences between disciplines

• Focus varies based on profession

• Goal: optimize team strengths

Tailor your message to the receiver (pharmacy-specific terminology)

The How: Communication Tools

SBAR
CUS
Check-Back
Motivational Interviewing
SBAR2

Situation
• Identify yourself, your
Assessment
discipline, and the problem • Findings

Background Recommendation
• Pertinent information • What’s next?
to paint a picture
CUS2

I’m this is a Safety

I’m Concerned
Uncomfortable issue
Check-Back2

Sender initiates message

Receiver accepts message and provides

feedback

Sender double-checks to ensure message

was received correctly
Motivational Interviewing2

Spark behavior change

Professional listens and reflects back, provides encouragement

and other potential ideas on how to be successful with change
Application Time Let’s pause and reflect…
 • At height of the pandemic, received prescription
for ivermectin at retail pharmacy
• Dose was much higher than maximum dose safe
for human use
Scenario 1: • Based on in vitro studies
• What communication tool would you have used?

CUS: I’m Concerned, I’m Uncomfortable, this is

a Safety issue
 • On rounds with the patient care team in the
hospital
• Team: physician, nurse, social worker, dietician,
pharmacist
• Physician asked for order to be entered, but
Scenario 2: spoke quickly and quietly
• What communication tool would you have used?

Check-Back: Sender initiates message, receiver

accepts message and provides feedback,
sender double-checks to ensure message was
received correctly
 • Order placed for allopurinol while staffing
• Patient on dialysis
• Looked at medication history, patient had never
used before and no history of gout
Scenario 3: • What communication tool would you have used?

SBAR: Situation, Background, Assessment,

Recommendation
 • In ambulatory care clinic, patient with
uncontrolled type 2 diabetes
• Did not eat/drink healthfully and wanted to avoid
medications
Scenario 4: • What communication tool would you have used?

Motivational Interviewing: Spark behavior

change. Professional listens and reflects back,
provides encouragement and other potential
ideas on how to be successful with change
Interprofessional
Communication Things to remember for
the future…
Pearls
Interprofessional Communication Pearls

Be firm with recommendations

Confidence is key Know what you know, but more importantly, know
what you don’t know

Always be respectful

Keep an open mind and an open ear

No matter what, the
patient is the most
important priority
 1. Bekkink MO, Farrell SE, Takayesu JK. Interprofessional
communication in the emergency department: residents’
perceptions and implications for medical education. Int J Med
Educ. 2018;(9):262-270. doi: 10.5116/ijme.5bb5.c111
References 2. TeamSTEPPS Fundamentals Course: Module 3. Communication.
Content last reviewed March 2019. Agency for Healthcare
Research and Quality, Rockville, MD.
https://www.ahrq.gov/teamstepps/instructor/fundamentals/m
odule3/igcommunication.html
 Questions?
Email: mwhitehead4@iuhealth.org
Please fill out this survey
Let me know how I did!
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Interprofessional
Communication

Dr. Margo Whitehead

PGY1 Pharmacy Resident | IUH Ball Memorial