Team Meeting

I am back in intensive care this week, and things have been going pretty well. This week has been a bit slower than the last, and it is a relief to have the normal dietitian back who knows all of the routines! Though I really enjoyed working with the other one too.

Twice a week the dietitian goes to a treatment team meeting. It is rather interesting how it works, and it illustrates the fact that doctors are the most respected figure on the team of healthcare providers. The pharmacist, the dietitian, several social workers, sometimes the Chaplain, and I think a head nurse, or coordinating nurse of some kind, congregate in the ICU. Then as a group we go around to each of the doctors, or wait in a room for them to come and talk to us about each of their patients. On Monday the ICU doctor did bedside rounds which was a new experience for me. When they update us on the status of the patients other group members can share what is happening in terms of the patient’s care from their angle of treatment. The dietitian I go with usually just listens.

The dietitian had conflicting meetings this week at both of the meeting times, and so she sent me alone, and then I filled her in on what I learned. I always find the meetings very interesting. I enjoy learning about the patients; now that I am more familiar with them the meetings are more meaningful and they are helpful when I write my assessments. I also enjoy seeing the different presentation styles of the different doctors. Each one is unique. I also really like the other members of the team and feel comfortable asking them to help clarify when I do not understand what a doctor has said.