(1323) The Champion We Needed: Improving Equitable Communication for PICU Families

Introduction: Effective communication is a cornerstone of safe, high-quality healthcare delivery, yet limited-English proficiency (LEP) patients/families face significant challenges in navigating the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) due to language barriers. There is an urgent need to address communication disparities and improve care for this vulnerable population.

Aim 1: Establish and implement a standardized daily communication process for at least 75% of the PICU population.
Aim 2: Apply Aim 1 to LEP patients/families in their native language.

Methods: We created the concept of communication champion (CC) assigned daily for each patient during rounds. The CC’s role is to provide a one-on-one update to the patient/family after rounds and answer their questions in a private, less daunting environment. CCs must provide these updates in the family’s native language, utilizing interpreter services as appropriate.

Various PDSA cycles were performed:
1) Integrated CC assignment reminders to our standardized rounding template
2) Incorporated CC role description into monthly resident orientation
3) Sent weekly emails to on-service providers
4) Added “Consult to Interpreter Services” order to all PICU admission order sets

Results: We successfully established the CC concept and incorporated it into our standardized rounding template. The CC establishes a standardized process for consistent communication with all PICU patients and families, including LEP families. We have seen an increase in face-to-face interpreter utilization in our PICU that surpasses our goal to achieve >75% compliance with daily provider updates to patients/families in their preferred language, with a convenience sampling satisfaction rate of 100%.

Conclusions: Consistent, quality communication with families in high stress areas such as the PICU is expected but not typically implemented as a standard practice, especially for LEP families. We have established a standardized process for consistent communication with all PICU patient families, including LEP families, and have seen an increase in face-to-face interpreter utilization in our PICU that surpasses our goal to achieve >75% compliance with daily provider updates to LEP patients/families in their preferred language, with a convenience sampling satisfaction rate of 100%.