Journal of critical care
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Journal of critical care · Feb 2013
A bedside communication tool did not improve the alignment of a multidisciplinary team's goals for intensive care unit patients.
Establishing well-understood daily patient care goals should improve healthcare team (HCT) communication, reduce errors, and improve patient outcomes. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that implementation of a daily goals "Door Communication Card" (DCC) would improve goal alignment between members of the HCT. ⋯ Alignment of daily patient care goals among HCT members is low overall and did not improve after implementing a DCC available to all team members. Further study to elucidate the mechanism by which daily goals forms improve patient care is required.
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Journal of critical care · Feb 2013
Editorial CommentShedding light on light in the intensive care unit.
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Journal of critical care · Dec 2012
Central venous pressure and shock index predict lack of hemodynamic response to volume expansion in septic shock: a prospective, observational study.
Volume expansion is a common therapeutic intervention in septic shock, although patient response to the intervention is difficult to predict. Central venous pressure (CVP) and shock index have been used independently to guide volume expansion, although their use is questionable. We hypothesize that a combination of these measurements will be useful. ⋯ Volume expansion in patients with early septic shock with a CVP of 8 mm Hg or greater and a shock index of 1 beat min(-1) mm Hg(-1) or less is unlikely to lead to an increase in cardiac index.