Figure 1

Communication of ICU Bed Allocation Decisions. Communication involved in intensive care unit bed allocation decision-making is indirect. "End user physicians" speaking directly to the resource nurse, but not the critical care fellow or attending physician, constituted a "parallel track " of bed allocation decision-making. Arrows -direction of communication between participants Solid Lines- consistent communication of need for intensive care resource. Broken Lines- inconsistent communication of need for intensive care resource.