In preparing for the consult, it strikes the consultant team that concerns about the appropriate use of limited resources are generating much of the distress the health care team is experiencing, but most are unwilling to name it directly. In doing some background research around strategies for managing ICU resources, you come across some articles mentioning exclusion criteria as one way of responding to the desire to use health care resources effectively.
You mention these to the team during the consult, but they seem uncomfortable with the prospect of considering having to triage patients. You acknowledge the role that Resource allocation plays in health care practice and the fact that allocation decisions are always value-laden, but also that it’s more appropriate that allocation decisions be made so as to avoid Bedside allocation and that it’s something that the organization’s quality team might need to address.