TABLE 3 ] .

Emergent Conference Between Clinician and Patient/Family to Discuss Goals of Care: Essential Steps

Essential Steps
• Introduce RRT clinicians/their roles and identify the relationship of surrogate(s) to patient
• Rapidly assess patient/family understanding of illness and prognosis
• Rapidly assess patient/family emotions and express support and empathy
• Update patient/family on medical condition
• Describe potential risks/burdens and benefits of proposed intervention, along with alternative options including, if appropriate, care focused exclusively on comfort
• Provide assurance that patient’s symptoms and other needs will be fully addressed whether or not life-prolonging treatments are initiated
• Obtain input from full interdisciplinary RRT as well as bedside nurse and primary service, as able
• Elicit family questions and concerns
• Make a patient-focused treatment recommendation based on medical findings

See Table 2 legend for expansion of abbreviation.