Capitalizing on transactive knowledge in the ICU.

The provision of high quality, patient-centered care for critically ill patients and their families is grounded in clinical knowledge and enhanced by effective health care teams. Three important and interrelated factors influence the application of clinical knowledge at the bedside. First, each member of the health care team possesses personal knowledge. Second, the team as a whole has knowledge that can be shared among team members. Third, there are sources of data and information that can be used by individuals or the team to build knowledge. The likelihood for excellent care is enhanced when we capitalize on the synergy among individual personal knowledge, team knowledge, and data sources.