Professional Contributions and Social Value in High-Acuity Medical Care Settings

This study will explore experiences in high-acuity medical care settings, such as emergency, trauma, intensive care, and related clinical areas. These settings often involve heavy workloads, complex care decisions, teamwork, and communication among many people. The study will invite healthcare professionals, patients, important family caregivers, and other related people to share their experiences. Participants may complete questionnaires, take part in interviews, or complete a later online survey. The study will ask about work experiences, care experiences, communication, support needs, teamwork, and the value of professional contributions in these settings. The goal of this study is to better understand important but less visible contributions in high-acuity medical care, such as teaching, coordination, communication, and support. The findings may help identify areas that can be considered in future research, hospital improvement, workforce development, and policy discussion.

Inclusion Criteria: * Adults aged 18 years or older who are able to understand the study information and provide informed consent or agreement to participate. * Healthcare professionals working in hospital-based high-acuity clinical areas, such as emergency departments, trauma and critical care, intensive care units, respiratory care units, and related settings. Eligible participants may include physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, case managers, registry or data management personnel, and administrative staff involved in these areas. * Patients who have received care in high-acuity medical care settings. * Important family members or main caregivers who have accompanied, cared for, or supported decision-making for patients in high-acuity medical care settings. * Public-sector or emergency response personnel involved in emergency care, rescue, health, or social service systems related to high-acuity medical care. For the first phase, healthcare professionals may be invited to complete questionnaires and/or participate in qualitative interviews. Patients, important family caregivers, and other relevant stakeholders may be invited to participate in qualitative interviews. For the second phase, eligible stakeholder groups may be invited to complete an anonymous online survey. Exclusion Criteria: * Individuals who decline to participate after receiving the study explanation. * Individuals who do not meet the inclusion criteria. * Individuals who are unable to understand the study information or complete the study procedures.