Patient safety and collaboration of the intensive care unit team.

CRITICALCARENURSE Vol 29, No. 2, APRIL 2009 85 prominent feature in detecting and reporting errors. Within the past 10 to 15 years, the delivery of care in intensive care units (ICUs) has demanded more of a team effort. The team includes physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, physical therapists, nutritionists, social workers, and other skilled professionals. Although team-oriented organizational structures and work patterns are evolving, the difficulty lies in transforming interpersonal and interprofessional relationships. Health care providers have been slow to adapt to the concepts of team and interdisciplinary collaboration. What follows is an overview of behaviors necessary for interdisciplinary collaboration in the ICU, barriers to effective communication, and the impact of communication failures. A proposal for team training and an approach for implementation are presented.