title: Care of the family in the surgical intensive care unit.
abstract: In the surgical intensive care unit (SICU), the stress of having a critically ill loved one creates significant bereavement and emotional needs for family members. Surgical palliative care has expanded; clinicians do not just treat the patient, but now include the family within the scope of care. Understanding and treating complicated grief, and the emotional and educational needs of the family improves family outcome, improves the surrogate family's ability to act as decision makers, and ultimately may positively affect patient survivor outcome. Care of families in the SICU requires interdisciplinary teams and palliative care processes to appropriately address their needs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, New Jersey Medical School, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, 07103, USA.
authors.forename: Leslie Steele
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Tyrie
authors.forename: Anne Charlotte
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Mosenthal
mesh_terms: D001601:Bereavement; D003422:Critical Care; D003657:Decision Making; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D006117:Grief; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D010166:Palliative Care