Certified Professional in Patient Safety (CPPS) Practice Exam

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Achieve success on the CPPS exam. Focus on critical patient safety concepts with comprehensive flashcards and MCQs. Each question comes with hints and explanations. Prepare effectively!

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Which tool should be recommended to standardize communication among providers at handoffs?

  1. DESC.

  2. AIDET.

  3. SBAR.

  4. CUS.

The correct answer is: SBAR.

The recommended tool for standardizing communication among providers at handoffs is SBAR, which stands for Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendation. This framework is specifically designed to facilitate clear and structured communication during transitions of care. SBAR helps healthcare professionals convey critical information succinctly and ensures that essential details are communicated effectively. By using this format, providers can share information about a patient's current condition (Situation), relevant historical data (Background), clinical findings (Assessment), and what action they think should be taken (Recommendation). This structured approach not only enhances clarity but also minimizes the risk of miscommunication, which is crucial during handoff processes where patient safety is a top priority. In contrast, the other tools mentioned serve different communication purposes. DESC is often used in conflict resolution, AIDET focuses on improving patient experience by facilitating communication with patients and their families, and CUS is designed for speaking up in situations where there is concern about safety. While all these tools are valuable in the healthcare setting, SBAR is specifically tailored for the purpose of standardizing handoff communication among providers.