Outcomes in healthcare depend a great deal on the qual- ity of decisions made by the people who care for patients. Those (like perfusionists, cardiac surgeons, and cardiac anesthetists) who work with the critically ill using sophisti-

Outcomes in healthcare depend a great deal on the quality of decisions made by the people who care for patients. Those (like perfusionists, cardiac surgeons, and cardiac anesthetists) who work with the critically ill using sophisticated technology often have to make life determining decisions quickly and under stress. Today, such decisions are seldom the sole responsibility of a single individual: each team member brings his or her unique expertise and abilities to each situation, and depends on the expertise and abilities of the others. Furthermore, a common view of the relevant facts is essential before a sound course of action can be chosen: Communication is therefore fundamental to decision making in cardiac surgery.