Open door model in critical care: challenges, opportunities and intervention strategies

Introduction: Family-centered care in ICU faces the major challenge of balancing technology and humanization; therefore, we envisioned exploring how the open door model in critical care presents opportunities in care, as well as the challenges it presents in its implementation and the strategies used for its application. Methods: It is a qualitative approach, descriptive design of bibliographic review type that allowed to analyze and interpret data exhaustively, obtained from scientific databases such as PubMed, SciELO, Scopus, Dialnet, as well as the Google Scholar search engine; with a sample of 30 studies that met the selection criteria, organized in a matrix in Excel software, for subsequent critical analysis following the CASPe reading rubric. Results: The implementation of the open-door model in the ICU promotes the humanization of care, strengthens family bonding. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the restrictions evidenced the need to balance biosecurity and emotional support. This model requires continuous training of personnel, adequacy of infrastructure, and protocols for its implementation, which contributes to a more comprehensive and humanized recovery. Conclusion: This model promotes the humanization of care and the integral wellbeing of the patient by integrating the family as an emotional support and protective factor in the patient's recovery. The research drives a cultural shift towards more inclusive, empathic and person-centered critical care.