Learn Strategies for Communicating With Colleagues, Patients, and Families About Antibiotic Prescribing

For information on how the materials below can be integrated into your practice's efforts to improve antibiotic use, read the Implementation Guide for Ambulatory Care Antibiotic Stewardship (PDF, 708 KB) 

Improving antibiotic use should be viewed as a patient safety issue. All members of an ambulatory practice should be encouraged to understand both the benefits and the risks of antibiotic use and be engaged in reducing harm associated with antibiotic use. Reducing harm often requires a change in thinking and behavior. The presentations and tools below are pertinent to the Antibiotic Stewardship Team, as well as clinicians, pharmacists, clinic staff, practice managers, and practice leadership.

Presentations

The three presentations below each include slides and a facilitator guide, and are designed to improve communication and consensus around antibiotic prescribing. 

Tools

The five tools below are designed to assist the practice in creating a safety culture that values appropriate antibiotic prescribing. The Commitment Poster (in English and Spanish) can be signed by clinicians and staff, or include pictures of clinicians and staff, and posted to let your patients know that your practice is committed to improving the antibiotic care they receive. The Communicating With Your Patient One-Page Document provides a brief summary of approaches to improve communication with patients about antibiotics. The Antibiotics: When Do you Need Them? Patient Brochure (in English and Spanish) can be provided to patients and families to explain why antibiotics are not always needed.