As a busy intern on a pediatric inpatient service, you are caring for a 3-year-old with multiple congenital anomalies, who is admitted for aspiration pneumonia. The child has been admitted multiple times for respiratory issues. The patient’s developmental level is approximately that of a 2-month-old. The family has not been at the bedside and you have not spoken with them. A consultant wants to obtain a sleep study prior to discharge, as he strongly suspects the child has sleep disordered breathing.
You decide to:
- Order the test and try to get a social worker to contact the family for you.
- Call the family and let them know you are getting a sleep study tonight.
- Ask the consultant to call the family to explain the test.
- Have the family come in to sit down with the consultant and the medical team in person to discuss the test and what you will do with the results.