Questions for the ICU team | Soheir Elmansy Foundation

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My questions for the ICU team

Start here: what is happening today and what the team is most worried about.

Pain, comfort and the details that matter every day.

What each treatment is for, and what it means when it changes.

What is each tube or line for, and how long will it be needed?
What are the main medicines being given, and why?
If the patient is on a ventilator, how much support is it giving, and is that going up or down?
Is the patient on medicines to support blood pressure, and is the dose changing?
Which test results are you watching most closely, and what do they show?
Is any procedure or surgery planned? What are the benefits, risks and alternatives?
Are any scans planned, and what are you looking for?

Infections are common in intensive care. These questions help you follow them.

Is there an infection now? Where is it?
Have cultures been taken, and what did they show?
Which antibiotics are being given, and for how long?
Is there a resistant germ? Does the patient need isolation?
What should visitors do to lower the risk of infection?
Are the lines and tubes checked every day, and removed when they are no longer needed?

Harder conversations. It is reasonable to ask for them at any time.

What to ask for so another specialist can review the case.

Would you support us in asking for a second opinion?
Can we have a written medical report that summarises the case?
Can we have copies of the scans on a CD or USB drive, in DICOM format, with their reports?
Can we have copies of recent lab results, including how they have changed over the last few days?
Where are the pathology slides and blocks kept, and how can we request them?
Would you be willing to speak with the second-opinion doctor directly?
Has the case been discussed at a tumour board or multidisciplinary meeting?

Who to talk to, when, and what it will cost.

Who is the consultant responsible for the patient’s care?
When is the best time each day to get an update, and who should we ask?
Can we agree on one family member as the main contact?
What are the visiting hours and rules?
What is the expected daily cost, and what does it include?
Is a deposit required? Are medicines, tests or blood products charged separately?
Can the hospital help with insurance, or with applying for treatment at the state’s expense?

What comes next, whether that is a ward, another hospital or home.