Family Meetings

Considerations:

If the family is small, reduce the number of clinical staff attending so you don’t outnumber and overwhelm them.

Where
Decide a location.
- Bedside
  Better if the patient is conscious.
  - Ensure privacy
  - Minimise interruptions
    Alarms, other staff.
- Room
  Unconscious patient.
What
Set an agenda, and decide what to say.
- Decide what sort of meeting is this?
  Update? Shared decision making?
- Be clear on the facts
  - Reassess the patient prior
  - Know the input from other teams
- Confirm the medical consensus
  - Current issues
    Examine the patient prior.
  - Current future stages
  - Huddle
    Confirm with staff attending the:
    - Goal of the meeting
    - Role of each team member
    - Leader of the meeting
    - Consensus opinion
Who
- Family
  - Delegated spokesperson if patient is unable
- Support staff
  - Bedside nurse
  - Social work
  - Pastoral care

References