This document outlines best practices for communication in the ICU. It recommends that written data be provided for all patients, including their medical condition, management plan, labs, tasks, and issues. Morning rounds should establish a clear plan for each patient, and staff should be notified of any major changes. Consultations from outside the ICU require written requests and approval from ICU staff, except in emergencies. When communicating with relatives, doctors should greet them by name, speak in their language, answer questions, and avoid medical jargon, interruptions or appearing rushed.

1. By
Dr. Mohammed Gameel

2. Communication with Colleagues in the
ICU
 Written data for all the patients.
 Data to be delivered in front of the patient.
 Data to be delivered including the medical condition,
clear plan of management, written labs, to do list,
problem list (medical and non medical).

3. Communication with the ICU staff members
 In the morning round; a clear plan of management is
taken for all the patients, and this plan to be written.
 All the major changes or any acute events are to be told
to the on call staff.
 The plan for each patient is delivered again in the next
morning round.
 some communication protocols may be different from
one unit to another.

4. Communication for consultations from non
ICU staff.
 The first rule is to know that the ICU patient is totally
responsible (medical and medico-legal) from the ICU
doctor.
 Official consultations are to be written.
 The consultation plan is to be written and not to be
done before the approval of the staff member of the
ICU (except the emergencies).

5. Communication with the patient’s relatives
DO THE FOLLOWING:
 Greet the child and parent by name.
 Smile
 Try to talk in the patient’s language.
 Direct the conversation to relevant directions
 At the end of the conversation as them if they have any
question.
 Give them time to absorb and understand the content
of your explanations.

6.  Tell the truth, when the truth is harsh deliver it with
common sense and empathy.
 If the facts are unpleasant, they can be delivered in
more than one visit.

7. DO NOT :
 Look at your watch frequently.
 Appear to be in a hurry.
 Use too many medical terms.
 Talk with your hand on the door handle, or foot
outside the door.
 Interrupt all the time.
 Give long lectures as explanation.
 Ignore concerns mentioned by the parents.

8. Thank you