Family meetings made simpler: a toolkit for the intensive care unit

Area of Science:

• Critical Care Medicine
• Healthcare Communication
• Patient and Family Support

Background:

• Family meetings in the intensive care unit (ICU) are linked to positive outcomes for patients, families, and healthcare systems.
• Despite recognized benefits, ICU family meetings are frequently delayed, ineffective, or unreliable.
• Effective communication is crucial for supporting families during critical illness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce three prototype tools designed to enhance the implementation of family meetings in the ICU.
• To provide critical care teams with practical resources for improving family communication.
• To support the development of performance improvement initiatives focused on family meetings.

Main Methods:

• Development of three prototype tools: a family meeting planner, a meeting guide for families, and a family meeting documentation template.
• Description of essential features and adaptability of these tools for diverse ICU settings.
• Discussion of the role of these tools in structuring performance improvement initiatives.

Main Results:

• The proposed tools offer a structured approach to family meetings in the ICU.
• The tools are designed to be adaptable to local needs, promoting user acceptability and utilization.
• Implementation of these tools can aid in addressing critical communication needs of ICU families.

Conclusions:

• The developed toolkit provides practical solutions for improving the timeliness, effectiveness, and reliability of ICU family meetings.
• These tools can serve as a valuable resource for critical care teams aiming to enhance family-centered care.
• Similar to tools used in infection control, these resources have the potential to significantly improve communication outcomes for ICU families.