EPIC redefines what “state-of-the-art” means in critical care. EPIC reimagines excellence in intensive care by shifting the focus from purely technological interventions to what truly matters to patients and families: relief of suffering, meaningful communication, and preservation of dignity.
EPIC is embedding palliative care principles into everyday ICU practice—integrating them into workflows, clinical training, and decision-making processes.
The project introduces scalable, low-tech innovations—such as tele-counselling and bedside tools—that are accessible even in resource-constrained ICUs. Through education, co-creation with patients and families, and ethical reflection grounded in real-life experiences, EPIC challenges the notion that excellence lies in delivering the most aggressive treatment, proposing instead a model of care that is compassionate, appropriate, and aligned with what patients value most.
Beside the ongoing clinical study, additional activities warrant specific mentioning:
- All interventional measures in the first ICUs that crossed over into the intervention period to date are extending daily practice to integrate palliative care; thereby aiming to change the institutional culture
- ICU clinician education extends beyond state of the art because it addresses barriers (including lack of awareness of benefits and need, difficulty of messaging palliative care, when to call for consultation), thereby aiming to sustainably change behaviour and increase skills
- The establishment of a European patient and family advisory group is a novel activity in the field, aiming to enhance patient-provider interaction.
