Learning to collaborate with medical interpreters in health professions education: A systematic review of training programs.

Background: Working effectively with medical interpreters is an increasingly valuable skill for clinicians to provide high-quality medical care. We aimed to assess the effectiveness of existing training programs that teach optimal collaboration practices between clinicians and interpreters during patient encounters.

Methods: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, and Cochrane Central for studies published from 1945 through June 21, 2022.

The Premise and Development of CHECK IN-Check-In for Exchange of Clinical and Key Information to Enhance Palliative Care Discussions for Patients With Limited English Proficiency.

Communication regarding serious illness is challenging in most circumstances. Patients with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) have unique language and cultural needs that often require collaboration with a trained medical interpreter, especially when the clinical encounter involves serious illness decision making or elucidation of patient goals, preferences, and values. Although there is mounting evidence to support interpreter/clinician huddles before a serious illness communication encounter, no current initiatives exist to operationalize this evidence.

Consequences of suboptimal communication for patients with limited English proficiency in the intensive care unit and suggestions for a way forward: A qualitative study of healthcare team perceptions.

Purpose: To understand the healthcare team's perceptions of the negative consequences of suboptimal communication and their recommendations to improve communication with patients and families who have Limited English Proficiency (LEP) in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Materials And Methods: We performed a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews of physicians, nurses, and interpreters from 3 ICUs at Mayo Clinic Rochester, between November 2017 and April 2018.

Results: We identified 5 consequences of suboptimal communication: 1) Suboptimal assessment and treatment of patient symptoms, 2) Unmet patient and family expectations, 3) Decreased patient autonomy, 4) Unmet end of life wishes and 5) Clinician Distress.

The Roles of medical interpreters in intensive care unit communication: A qualitative study.

Objectives: To understand healthcare team perceptions of the role of professional interpreters and interpretation modalities during end of life and critical illness discussions with patients and families who have limited English proficiency in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Methods: We did a secondary analysis of data from a qualitative study with semi-structured interviews of 16 physicians, 12 nurses, and 12 professional interpreters from 3 ICUs at Mayo Clinic, Rochester.

Results: We identified 3 main role descriptions for professional interpreters: 1) Verbatim interpretation; interpreters use literal interpretation; 2) Health Literacy Guardian; interpreters integrate advocacy into their role; 3) Cultural Brokers; interpreters transmit information incorporating cultural nuances.

Family Care Rituals in the ICU to Reduce Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Family Members-A Multicenter, Multinational, Before-and-After Intervention Trial.

Objectives: To assess the feasibility and efficacy of implementing "Family Care Rituals" as a means of engaging family members in the care of patients admitted to the ICU with a high risk of ICU mortality on outcomes including stress-related symptoms in family members.

Design: Prospective, before-and-after intervention evaluation.

Setting: Two U.

Ventilator Withdrawal in Anticipation of Death: The Simulation Lab as an Educational Tool in Palliative Medicine.

Simulation is a growing model of education in many medical disciplines. Withdrawal of mechanical ventilation is an important skill set for palliative medicine practitioners who must be facile with a variety of end-of-life scenarios and is well suited to the simulation laboratory. We describe a novel approach using high-fidelity simulation to design a curriculum to teach Hospice & Palliative Medicine fellows the practical aspects of managing a compassionate terminal extubation.

A Multidisciplinary Team-Based Approach to Improve Communication With Surrogates of Patients With Chronic Critical Illness.

Background: Clinicians need to deliver prognostic information to surrogates of nondecisional, critically ill patients so that surrogates can make informed medical decisions that reflect the patient's values. Our objective was to implement a new approach for communicating with surrogates of patients with chronic critical illness.

Methods: Surrogate decision makers of patients who were difficult to liberate from mechanical ventilation were prospectively enrolled.

Mechanical ventilation.

Over the past several years, there has been an introduction of numerous modes of mechanical ventilation, each with their own advantages and limitations. This article reviews the common modes of mechanical ventilation, new technologies, and specific ventilator strategies that have been shown to be beneficial. In addition, it reviews the steps that should be taken when troubleshooting a ventilator.

Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation in the emergency department.

Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NPPV) is becoming more commonplace, both in the ICU and also in the Emergency Department. This article addresses the rationale and mechanism of action for NPPV. A review of the indications for using NPPV and a discussion detailing the initiation of NPPV follows.

Survey of acute mountain sickness on Mauna Kea.

Although thousands of people ascend 4205 m to visit the summit of Mauna Kea each year, there has been no information on the rate of altitude illness triggered by such visits. Two surveys were used: one for tourists driving up to the summit and the other for summit astronomy workers staying at lodging facilities at intermediate altitude. The surveys included the standardized Lake Louise Self-report Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) Questionnaire that, when scored, gave the Lake Louise Symptoms Score (LLSS).