As a fellow with our program, how will you explain a complex procedure or diagnosis to the family of a patient?

"I have found that being direct and honest while maintaining an empathetic approach worked best with family members during my general surgery residency. I fully understand that I will be relied upon to talk with the families and loved ones of patients under my care as a surgical critical care fellow, and I'm very excited to do this. Families want to know what is happening, how procedures went, and what the prognosis will be, and this is what I strive to educate them on as soon as possible."

Healthcare is increasingly complex, so it makes sense that most caregivers and loved ones won't know much about the care their family member receives in the critical care setting. This question is a chance to showcase your ability to explain a complicated idea without losing integrity and dumbing it down. Explain your step-by-step approach to ensuring the complicated subject is understood by your audience. If you have an example of a time you did just this during your residency training, be sure to talk about your process and its results.