Table 2.

Example of knowledge brokering

Example	Proactive vs. reactive	Content of information	Within-ED work system vs. across-system	Anticipatory
EMS transported a 72-year-old male patient to the ED after he suffered a fall. While in the ED, he experienced uncontrollable shaking. The nurse asked him whether he had diabetes and if EMS had measured his blood sugar level. The patient shared his blood sugar level (taken by EMS) with the nurse.	Reactive: the nurse prompts the patient to act as a knowledge broker by asking them about the results of the blood sugar test.	Prior diagnostic testing: results of the patient’s blood sugar test	Across-system: the patient acts as a knowledge broker between EMS and the nurse in the ED	Not anticipatory