Researchers at Boston-based Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center surveyed family members in ICUs and people online to gather a complete picture of why patients hesitate to speak up. The majority said they may not feel comfortable speaking up to clinicians in certain safety situations. The most common reason cited for staying quiet was the fear of being labeled a "troublemaker," with 34% of family members citing this as a reason. In addition, 32% said they were worried that the care team was too busy to respond to their concerns or didn't know who to contact with their worries. Some providers are now using programs such as the We Want to Know initiative to inform patients and families early on that they can, and should weigh in on their care.
NBHC Care Experience