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Facilitating Interactions Between Healthcare Providers in the ICU

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The Organization of Critical Care

Part of the book series: Respiratory Medicine ((RM,volume 18))

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Abstract

Healthcare organizations are dynamic and complex systems that require multiple subjects to achieve its goals. Therefore it is no surprise that communication is a fundamental process in these systems, and that failures in communication are associated with worse outcomes. However, the term communication without a formal definition is nothing more than an elusive concept. In this chapter we borrow from an established mathematical framework of communication and use it as the basis to identify sources of errors in communication, discuss the main moments of communication in the ICU, and contextualize how communication tools, such as interdisciplinary rounds, standardization, pre-printed orders (PPOs), algorithms and language style, can help improve communication and increase the efficiency of healthcare and patient safety.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Critical Care Medicine, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Office D1 08, 2075 Bayview Avenue, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Andre Carlos Kajdacsy-Balla Amaral

  2. Interdepartmental Division of Critical Care Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Andre Carlos Kajdacsy-Balla Amaral

Authors
  1. Andre Carlos Kajdacsy-Balla Amaral
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Andre Carlos Kajdacsy-Balla Amaral .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Critical Care Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    Damon C. Scales

  2. Division of Critical Care Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    Gordon D. Rubenfeld

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Kajdacsy-Balla Amaral, A.C. (2014). Facilitating Interactions Between Healthcare Providers in the ICU. In: Scales, D., Rubenfeld, G. (eds) The Organization of Critical Care. Respiratory Medicine, vol 18. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0811-0_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0811-0_8

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-0810-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-0811-0

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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