For effective communication regarding patient care, the inpatient surgical intensive care scheduler should maintain which of the following?

Maintaining open lines of communication with other inpatient units is crucial for effective patient care, especially in a surgical intensive care setting. This approach ensures that all healthcare providers involved in a patient's care are aware of the patient's status, treatment plans, and any changes in condition. Effective communication facilitates collaboration among different departments, which is essential for coordinating patient care, addressing urgent needs, and preventing errors.

By keeping these lines of communication open, the scheduler can contribute to a team environment where multiple domains of care can be integrated, enhancing patient outcomes and safety. This collaboration is particularly vital in an intensive care setting where patients may have complex or rapidly changing conditions requiring the input and coordination of various medical professionals.

In contrast, the other options—monthly reports, weekly newsletters, and direct supervision—may not provide the immediate and fluid communication needed in a high-stakes environment like an intensive care unit. Monthly reports could be too infrequent to capture real-time changes, newsletters may lack the detail necessary for urgent care adjustments, and direct supervision, while important, does not inherently foster communication across different units.