In our first symposium, we discussed emerging theoretical models and methodological approaches as they pertain to the study of error and complexity in critical care. In the second symposium, we discussed some of our empirical findings and progress in theory development and method evaluation to date, and discussed possibilities for interventions and refinement of our approaches. Last year, we evaluated our findings in regards to our initial aims: what expected and surprising findings we have obtained, which of the methodological approaches are most likely to bear fruit moving forward, what theoretical models will most likely emerge and mature, what intervention as will be significant scientifically and clinically, and where our attention be best spent during the rest of the project period.
This year, our theme is “Empirically-grounded Interventions for Safe Critical Care Practice.” This year’s presentations will emphasize our recent efforts to improve safety in critical care through interventions. These interventions are empirically-grounded and include efforts to mitigate error through education and training, enhanced documentation, visualization techniques, and virtual world simulations. We also take this opportunity to achieve a greater level of synthesis among sites, collaborators and focal issues in view to address some of our original aims.
The objectives of this symposium are:
- To report on the current “state of the art” of complexity and error in critical care settings
- To present the multi-faceted intervention strategies that mitigate error (and enhance safety) in critical care settings
- To synthesize our collective contribution to knowledge and clinical practice
