• Nicholas G Wysham, Richard A Mularski, David M Schmidt, Shirley C Nord, Deborah L Louis, Elizabeth Shuster, J Randall Curtis, and David M Mosen.
• Department of Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA. Electronic address: Nicholas.Wysham@gmail.com.
• J Crit Care. 2014 Jun 1;29(3):450-4.

PurposeCommunication in the intensive care unit (ICU) is an important component of quality ICU care. In this report, we evaluate the long-term effects of a quality improvement (QI) initiative, based on the VALUE communication strategy, designed to improve communication with family members of critically ill patients.Materials And MethodsWe implemented a multifaceted intervention to improve communication in the ICU and measured processes of care. Quality improvement components included posted VALUE placards, templated progress note inclusive of communication documentation, and a daily rounding checklist prompt. We evaluated care for all patients cared for by the intensivists during three separate 3 week periods, pre, post, and 3 years following the initial intervention.ResultsCare delivery was assessed in 38 patients and their families in the pre-intervention sample, 27 in the post-intervention period, and 41 in follow-up. Process measures of communication showed improvement across the evaluation periods, for example, daily updates increased from pre 62% to post 76% to current 84% of opportunities.ConclusionsOur evaluation of this quality improvement project suggests persistence and continued improvements in the delivery of measured aspects of ICU family communication. Maintenance with point-of-care-tools may account for some of the persistence and continued improvements.Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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