Families in the ICU

About the Book

The intention of this book is to provide information to assist families with the care of their family member and to foster good communication with medical personnel. The book is based on a book, developed in part by actual ICU families and the author, as part of a doctoral research study to measure the level of satisfaction with care and communication between family members and the medical personnel who serve them. Results of the study suggested that family satisfaction with care and communication improved because of the information contained in the book. It is hoped that this book will contain valuable information for family members and will provide a resource to answer questions regarding the care of ICU patients with TBI or stroke. It is also hoped that this book will assist families in communicating more effectively with medical staff in order to ultimately benefit the care of the patient and improve patient outcomes.

About the Author

Dr. Melanie McCormick Tidman is an occupational therapist with over thirty-six years’ experience in rehabilitation and intensive care. Dr. Tidman received a bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy from Colorado State University in 1979, a master’s degree in educational psychology from the University of New Mexico in 1985, and a doctorate in health science degree from AT Still University in 2011. With Dr. Tidman being an occupational therapist in the neuroscience intensive care unit, her passion was to educate and collaborate with families concerning the care of injured loved ones as valued members of the medical team. Dr. Tidman is currently an adjunct professor with the doctorate in health science program at AT Still University. She is married, with two grown children, and lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico.