ICU nurse-to-patient ratio is associated with complications and resource use after esophagectomy

A multifaceted feedback strategy alone does not improve the adherence to organizational guideline-based standards: a cluster randomized trial in intensive care

Background

Organizational data such as bed occupancy rate and nurse-to-patient ratio are related to clinical outcomes and to the efficient use of intensive care unit (ICU) resources. Standards for these performance indicators are provided in guidelines. We studied the effects of a multifaceted feedback strategy to improve the adherence to these standards.

Methods

In a cluster randomized controlled study design the intervention ICUs received extensive monthly feedback reports, they received outreach visits and initiated a quality improvement team. The control ICUs received limited quarterly feedback reports only. We collected primary data prospectively within the setting of a Dutch national ICU registry over a 14-month study period. The target indicators were bed occupancy rate (aiming at 80 % or below) and nurse-to-patient ratio (aiming at 0.5 or higher). Data were collected per 8-h nursing shift. Logistic regression analysis was performed. For both study end points, the odds ratios (OR) for improvements at follow-up versus at baseline were calculated separately for control and intervention ICUs.

Results

We analyzed data on 67,237 nursing shifts. The bed occupancy rate did not improve in the intervention group compared to baseline (adjusted OR 0.88; 95 % confidence interval (CI), 0.62–1.27) or compared to control group (OR 0.67; 95 % CI 0.39–1.15). The nurse-to-patient ratio did not improve (OR 0.72; 95 % CI 0.41–1.26 compared to baseline and OR 0.65; 95 % CI 0.35–1.19 compared to control group).

Conclusions

A multifaceted feedback intervention did not improve the adherence to guideline-based standards on the organizational issues bed occupancy rate and nurse-to-patient ratio in the ICU. The reasons may be a limited confidence in data quality, the lack of practical tools for improvement, and the relatively short follow-up.

Trial registration

ISRCTN: ISRCTN50542146

Studies on nurse staffing and health care-associated infection: methodologic challenges and potential solutions

BACKGROUND

Researchers have been studying hospital nurse staffing in relation to health care-associated infections (HAIs) for >2 decades, and the results have been mixed. We summarized published research examining these issues, critically analyzed the commonly used approaches, identified methodologic challenges, proposed potential solutions, and suggested the possible benefits of applying an electronic health record (EHR) system.

METHODS

A scoping review was conducted using MEDLINE and CINAHL from 1990 onward. Original research studies examining relationships between nurse staffing and HAIs in the hospital setting and published in peer-reviewed English-language journals were selected.

RESULTS

A total of 125 articles and abstracts were identified, and 45 met inclusion criteria. Findings from these studies were mixed. The methodologic challenges identified included database selection, variable measurement, methods to link the nurse staffing and HAI data, and temporality. Administrative staffing data were often not precise or specific. The most common method to link staffing and HAI data did not assess the temporal relationship. We proposed using daily staffing information 2-4 days prior to HAI onset linked to individual patient HAI data.

CONCLUSION

To assess the relationships between nurse staffing and HAIs, methodologic decisions are necessary based on what data are available and feasible to obtain. National efforts to promote an EHR may offer solutions for future studies by providing more comprehensive data on HAIs and nurse staffing.

Impact of hospital volume on long-term survival after resection for oesophageal cancer: a population-based study in Taiwan†

OBJECTIVES

Previous studies have shown that patients who undergo oesophageal cancer surgery in high-volume hospitals have lower postoperative mortality rates. However, the impact of hospital volume on long-term survival is controversial.

METHODS

We identified 2151 patients who were diagnosed with oesophageal cancer between 2008 and 2011 from a national population-based cancer registry in Taiwan. High-volume hospitals were defined as those performing more than 86 oesophagectomies during that period (22 cases/year). Patients were stratified by whether they received preoperative chemoradiation. Cox regression analyses were used to determine the survival impact of hospital volume.

RESULTS

The 3-year overall survival rates after oesophagectomies were 44.9% in high-volume hospitals, compared with 40.2% in low-volume hospitals (P = 0.002). For patients who received preoperative chemoradiation (n = 850), the 1- and 3-year overall survival rates were 74.7 and 36.8%, respectively, in high-volume hospitals, compared with 73.5 and 42.6%, respectively, in low-volume hospitals (P = 0.333). For patients who did not receive preoperative chemoradiation (n = 1301), the 1- and 3-year overall survival rates were 78.1 and 50.0%, respectively, in high-volume hospitals, compared with 67.9 and 38.8%, respectively, in low-volume hospitals (P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that hospital volume, resection margin, cT, pT and pN stages are significant independent prognostic factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall survival rate of patients who undergo oesophagectomies without preoperative chemoradiation at high-volume hospitals is significantly higher than at low-volume hospitals. However, there was no significant correlation between hospital volume and long-term outcome in patients who received preoperative chemoradiation.

Higher surgical critical care staffing levels are associated with improved National Surgical Quality Improvement Program quality measures

BACKGROUND

The changing face of American health care demands careful scrutiny of resource allocation. The impact of the surgical intensivist model on general surgical quality measures has not been studied. Our objective was to investigate the relationship between surgical critical care staffing and indicators of general surgical quality measured by the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP).

METHODS

We retrospectively examined the number of attending surgical intensivists at our tertiary care center biannually from January 2008 through June 2012. Risk-adjusted indicators of general surgical quality were captured and reported semiannually by NSQIP. Mortality, overall morbidity, patients on ventilator for more than 48 hours, unplanned intubations, and venous thromboembolism were included. Student's t test was used to compare the staffing levels and associated NSQIP odds ratios of a 3-year control period of full commitment with a 2-year period following significant provider attrition.

RESULTS

The number of full-time surgical intensivists ranged from 2 to 8, with a period of rapid decline in late 2010 to early 2011 followed by slow recovery. There was a mean of 6.6 surgical intensivists during the 3 years before the decline and a mean of 4 in the 2 years after the decline and recovery (p < 0.005). This period of decline was associated with a significant increase in the odds ratio of ventilation for more than 48 hours (before, 0.936; after, 1.87; p = 0.0086) and of venous thromboembolism (before, 0.844; after 1.43; p = 0.0268). A trend in increased unplanned intubations was also observed. Overall morbidity and mortality were not affected. Notably, quality indicators seemed to rapidly approach baseline levels as new surgical intensivists were recruited.

CONCLUSION

Institutional commitment to recruitment and retention of a surgical critical care team leads to improved NSQIP general surgery quality measures.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Care management study, level IV.

Comparing mortality among adult, general intensive care units in England with varying intensivist cover patterns: a retrospective cohort study

Introduction

Research has demonstrated that intensivist-led care of the critically ill is associated with reduced intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital mortality. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether a relation exists between intensivist cover pattern (for example, number of days of continuous cover) and patient outcomes among adult general ICUs in England.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study by using data from a pooled case mix and outcome database of adult general critical care units participating in the Intensive Care National Audit & Research Centre (ICNARC) Case Mix Programme. Consecutive admissions to participating units for the years 2010 to 2011 were linked to a survey of intensivist cover practices. Our primary outcome of interest was mortality at ultimate discharge from acute-care hospital.

Results

The analysis included 80,122 patients admitted to 130 ICUs in 128 hospitals. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to assess the relation between intensivist cover patterns (days of continuous cover, grade of physician staffing at nighttime, and frequency of daily handovers) and acute hospital mortality, adjusting for patient case mix. No relation was seen between days of continuous cover by a single intensivist or grade of physician staffing at nighttime and acute hospital mortality. Acute hospital mortality and ICU length of stay were not associated with intensivist characteristics, intensivist full-time equivalents per bed, or years of clinical experience. Intensivist participation in handover was associated with increased mortality (odds ratio, 1.27; 95% confidence interval, 1.04 to 1.55); however, only nine units reported no intensivist participation.

Conclusions

We found no relation between days of continuous cover by a single intensivist or grade of physician staffing at nighttime and patient outcomes in adult, general ICUs in England. Intensivist participation in handover was associated with increased mortality; further research to confirm or refute this finding is required.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13054-014-0491-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Reducing the burden of surgical harm: a systematic review of the interventions used to reduce adverse events in surgery

OBJECTIVE

To perform a systematic review of interventions used to reduce adverse events in surgery.

BACKGROUND

Many interventions, which aim to improve patient safety in surgery, have been introduced to hospitals. Little is known about which methods provide a measurable decrease in morbidity and mortality.

METHODS

MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were searched from inception to Week 19, 2012, for systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and cross-sectional and cohort studies, which reported an intervention aimed toward reducing the incidence of adverse events in surgical patients. The quality of observational studies was measured using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. RCTs were assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration's tool for assessing risk of bias.

RESULTS

Ninety-one studies met inclusion criteria, 26 relating to structural interventions, 66 described modifying process factors. Only 17 (of 42 medium to high quality studies) reported an intervention that produced a significant decrease in morbidity and mortality. Structural interventions were: improving nurse to patient ratios (P = 0.008) and Intensive Care Unit (ITU) physician involvement in postoperative care (P < 0.05). Subspecialization in surgery reduced technical complications (P < 0.01). Effective process interventions were submission of outcome data to national audit (P < 0.05), use of safety checklists (P < 0.05), and adherence to a care pathway (P < 0.05). Certain safety technology significantly reduced harm (P = 0.02), and team training had a positive effect on patient outcome (P = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Only a small cohort of medium- to high-quality interventions effectively reduce surgical harm and are feasible to implement. It is important that future research remains focused on demonstrating a measurable reduction in adverse events from patient safety initiatives.

Nurse staffing, medical staffing and mortality in Intensive Care: An observational study

OBJECTIVES

To investigate whether the size of the workforce (nurses, doctors and support staff) has an impact on the survival chances of critically ill patients both in the intensive care unit (ICU) and in the hospital.

BACKGROUND

Investigations of intensive care outcomes suggest that some of the variation in patient survival rates might be related to staffing levels and workload, but the evidence is still equivocal.

DATA

Information about patients, including the outcome of care (whether the patient lived or died) came from the Intensive Care National Audit & Research Centre (ICNARC) Case Mix Programme. An Audit Commission survey of ICUs conducted in 1998 gave information about staffing levels. The merged dataset had information on 65 ICUs and 38,168 patients. This is currently the best available dataset for testing the relationship between staffing and outcomes in UK ICUs.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional, retrospective, risk adjusted observational study.

METHODS

Multivariable, multilevel logistic regression.

OUTCOME MEASURES

ICU and in-hospital mortality.

RESULTS

After controlling for patient characteristics and workload we found that higher numbers of nurses per bed (odds ratio: 0.90, 95% confidence interval: [0.83, 0.97]) and higher numbers of consultants (0.85, [0.76, 0.95]) were associated with higher survival rates. Further exploration revealed that the number of nurses had the greatest impact on patients at high risk of death (0.98, [0.96, 0.99]) whereas the effect of medical staffing was unchanged across the range of patient acuity (1.00, [0.97, 1.03]). No relationship between patient outcomes and the number of support staff (administrative, clerical, technical and scientific staff) was found. Distinguishing between direct care and supernumerary nurses and restricting the analysis to patients who had been in the unit for more than 8h made little difference to the results. Separate analysis of in-unit and in-hospital survival showed that the clinical workforce in intensive care had a greater impact on ICU mortality than on hospital mortality which gives the study additional credibility.

CONCLUSION

This study supports claims that the availability of medical and nursing staff is associated with the survival of critically ill patients and suggests that future studies should focus on the resources of the health care team. The results emphasise the urgent need for a prospective study of staffing levels and the organisation of care in ICUs.

A new device to automate the monitoring of critical patients' urine output

Urine output (UO) is usually measured manually each hour in acutely ill patients. This task consumes a substantial amount of time. Furthermore, in the literature there is evidence that more frequent (minute-by-minute) UO measurement could impact clinical decision making and improve patient outcomes. However, it is not feasible to manually take minute-by-minute UO measurements. A device capable of automatically monitoring UO could save precious time of the healthcare staff and improve patient outcomes through a more precise and continuous monitoring of this parameter. This paper presents a device capable of automatically monitoring UO. It provides minute by minute measures and it can generate alarms that warn of deviations from therapeutic goals. It uses a capacitive sensor for the measurement of the UO collected within a rigid container. When the container is full, it automatically empties without requiring any internal or external power supply or any intervention by the nursing staff. In vitro tests have been conducted to verify the proper operation and accuracy in the measures of the device. These tests confirm the viability of the device to automate the monitoring of UO.

Night and day in the VA: associations between night shift staffing, nurse workforce characteristics, and length of stay

In hospitals, nurses provide patient care around the clock, but the impact of night staff characteristics on patient outcomes is not well understood. The aim of this study was to examine the association between night nurse staffing and workforce characteristics and the length of stay (LOS) in 138 veterans affairs (VA) hospitals using panel data from 2002 through 2006. Staffing in hours per patient day was higher during the day than at night. The day nurse workforce had more educational preparation than the night workforce. Nurses' years of experience at the unit, facility, and VA level were greater at night. In multivariable analyses controlling for confounding variables, higher night staffing and a higher skill mix were associated with reduced LOS.

Physical restraints practice in adult intensive care units in Egypt

Physical restraints are commonly used in intensive care units to reduce the risk of injury and ensure patient safety. However, there is still controversy regarding the practice of physical restraints in such units. The purpose of this study was to investigate the practices of physical restraints among critical care nurses in El-Mansoura City, Egypt. The study involved a convenience sample of 275 critically ill adult patients, and 153 nurses. Data were collected from 11 intensive care units using a "physical restraint observation form" and a "structured questionnaire." The results revealed that physical restraint was commonly used to ensure patient safety. Assessment of physical restraint was mainly restricted to peripheral circulation. The most commonly reported physically restrained site complications included: redness, bruising, swelling, and edema. The results illustrated a lack of documentation on physical restraint and a lack of education of patients and their families about the rationale of physical restraint usage. The study shed light on the need for standard guidelines and policies for physical restraint practices in Egyptian intensive care units.

International comparisons of intensive care: informing outcomes and improving standards

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Interest in international comparisons of critical illness is growing, but the utility of these studies is questionable. This review examines the challenges of international comparisons and highlights areas in which international data provide information relevant to clinical practice and resource allocation.

RECENT FINDINGS

International comparisons of ICU resources demonstrate that definitions of critical illness and ICU beds vary due to differences in ability to provide organ support and variable staffing. Despite these limitations, recent international data provide key information to understand the pros and cons of different availability of ICU beds on patient flow and outcomes, and also highlight the need to ensure long-term follow-up due to heterogeneity in discharge practices for critically ill patients. With increasing emphasis on curbing costs of healthcare, systems that deliver lower cost care provide data on alternative options, such as regionalization, flexible allocation of beds, and bed rationing.

SUMMARY

Differences in provision of critical care can be leveraged to inform decisions on allocation of ICU beds, improve interpretation of clinical outcomes, and assess ways to decrease costs of care. International definitions of key components of critical care are needed to facilitate research and ensure rigorous comparisons.

Influência do dimensionamento da equipe de enfermagem na qualidade do cuidado ao paciente crítico

Estudo na modalidade Revisão Integrativa, com objetivo de analisar a influência do dimensionamento do pessoal de enfermagem intensivista na qualidade do cuidado ao paciente crítico adulto. Foram incluídas apenas publicações científicas, das principais bases eletrônicas, veiculadas em periódicos de acesso livre e eletrônico, referentes à última década (janeiro de 2000 a janeiro de 2010), nos idiomas inglês, português e espanhol. Obteve-se um total de 10 publicações, dentre as quais três avaliaram a incidência de mortalidade e extubação acidental no pós-operatório; três avaliaram os reflexos no cuidado resultantes da redução no número de enfermeiros; dois avaliaram o desenvolvimento de infecções; e um, respectivamente, avaliou a incidência de quedas e de pneumonia associada à ventilação mecânica. Os estudos indicam relação entre o subdimensionamento de trabalhadores da enfermagem e o aumento nas taxas de infecções, mortalidade, quedas, pneumonia associada à ventilação mecânica e extubação acidental.

Adverse drug events in intensive care units: a cross-sectional study of prevalence and risk factors

BACKGROUND

Adverse drug events are considered determinants of patient safety and quality of care.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the characteristics of adverse drug events in patients admitted to an intensive care unit and determine the impact of severity of illness and nursing workload on the prevalence of the events.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey based on retrospective analysis of a high-quality patient data management system for a university-based intensive care unit was used. The prevalence of adverse drug events was measured by using a validated global trigger tool adapted for the critical care environment. Severity was determined by using a validated algorithm. Disease severity and nursing workload were assessed by using validated scoring systems. An investigator blinded to the study and a panel of experts assessed putative serious adverse drug events for each drug taken. Characteristics of patients with and without adverse drug events were compared by using univariate and stepwise multivariate logistic regression.

RESULTS

During 175 of 1009 intensive care unit days screened, 230 adverse drug events occurred in 79 patients. The most common events were hypoglycemia, prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time, and hypokalemia. Of the adverse events, 96% were classified as causing temporary harm and 4% as causing complications. Both mean severity of disease and nursing workload were significantly higher on days when 1 or more adverse drug events occurred.

CONCLUSION

Adverse drug events were common in intensive care unit patients and were associated with illness severity and nursing workload.

Economics of ICU organization and management

The intensive care unit (ICU) is a complex system and the economic implications of altering care patterns in the ICU can be difficult to unravel. Few studies have specifically examined the economics of implementing organizational and management changes or acknowledged the many competing economic interests of patient, hospital,payer, and society. With continuously increasing healthcare costs,there is a great need for more studies focused on the optimal organization of the ICU. These studies should not focus solely on reductions in ICU length of stay but should strive to measure the true costs of care within a given healthcare system.

Recommendations on basic requirements for intensive care units: structural and organizational aspects

OBJECTIVE

To provide guidance and recommendations for the planning or renovation of intensive care units (ICUs) with respect to the specific characteristics relevant to organizational and structural aspects of intensive care medicine.

METHODOLOGY

The Working Group on Quality Improvement (WGQI) of the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM) identified the basic requirements for ICUs by a comprehensive literature search and an iterative process with several rounds of consensus finding with the participation of 47 intensive care physicians from 23 countries. The starting point of this process was an ESICM recommendation published in 1997 with the need for an updated version.

RESULTS

The document consists of operational guidelines and design recommendations for ICUs. In the first part it covers the definition and objectives of an ICU, functional criteria, activity criteria, and the management of equipment. The second part deals with recommendations with respect to the planning process, floorplan and connections, accommodation, fire safety, central services, and the necessary communication systems.

CONCLUSION

This document provides a detailed framework for the planning or renovation of ICUs based on a multinational consensus within the ESICM.

Changes in the incidence of multiresistant pathogens and its consequences in intensive care unit

Incidence of nosocomial infections and antibiotics resistance in intensive care units is increasing worldwide. Blood-stream infections of Gram-negative non-fermentive bacteria are associated with higher mortality. Aim and methods: The aim of this study was to compare the antibiotic sensitivity of nosocomial blood-stream infections between years 2008–2010. Results: There was no difference in the sensitivity of methycillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and extended-spectrum beta lactamase producing Klebsiella spp. and Escherichia coli infections between the two years examined. Antibiotic resistance of Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas infections showed a marked increase in 2010 when compared to that found in 2008: there was no multiresistant Acinetobacter infection in samples obtained in 2008, but all these infections were found to be sensitive only to colistin in samples investigated in 2010. Sensitivity of Pseudomonas infections to carbapenems and piperacillin/tazobactam decreased significantly during this time. In addition, the authors found that the mortality of multiresistant Gram-negative blood-stream infections was higher compared to that caused by non-multiresistant bacteria. Conclusions: These results emphasize the importance of infection control, adequate dosing and timing of antibiotics, and an appropriate number of nurses in intensive care unit. Orv. Hetil., 2011, 152, 1486–1491.

The volume-outcome relation in the surgical treatment of esophageal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

This study was undertaken to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature on the relation between procedural volume and outcome of esophagectomies. A systematic search was carried out to identify articles investigating effects of hospital or surgeon volume on short-term and long-term outcomes published between 1995 and 2010. Articles were scrutinized for methodological quality, and after inclusion of only high-quality studies, a meta-analysis assuming a random effects model was done to estimate the effect of higher volume on patient outcome. Heterogeneity in study results was evaluated with an I(2) -test and risk of publication bias with an Egger regression intercept. Forty-three studies were found. Sixteen studies met the strict inclusion criteria for the meta-analysis on hospital volume and postoperative mortality and 4 studies on hospital volume and survival. The pooled estimated effect size was significant for high-volume providers in the analysis of postoperative mortality (odds ratio [OR], 2.30; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.89-2.80) and in the survival analysis (OR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.05-1.30). The meta-analysis of surgical volume and outcome showed no significant results. Studies in which the results were adjusted not only for patient characteristics but also for tumor characteristics and urgency of the operation showed a stronger correlation between hospital volume and mortality. Also, studies performed on data from the United States showed higher effect sizes. The evidence for hospital volume as an important determinant of outcome in esophageal cancer surgery is strong. Concentration of procedures in high-volume hospitals with a dedicated setting for the treatment of esophageal cancer might lead to an overall improvement in patient outcome.

Nurses critical to quality, safety, and now financial performance

Preventable hospital errors are the accepted impetus to the establishment of quality measures and served as a catalyst for the ongoing evolution of healthcare reform. Nurses are crucial members of the hospital quality team, and their actions are integral to the hospital's quality performance. The authors explore some of the practical challenges created by quality performance standards, specifically around venous thromboembolism, and the contribution nurses can make, to patient safety, quality of care, and the institutions financial performance.

Defining higher-risk surgery

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Defining the contemporary high-risk noncardiac surgical population using objective clinical outcomes data is paramount for the rational allocation of healthcare resources, truly informed patient consent and improving patient-centered outcomes.

RECENT FINDINGS

Data from independent healthcare systems have identified that the development, and consequences, of postoperative morbidity extend beyond the immediate postoperative hospital period and confer substantially increased risk of death. Cardiac insufficiency, rather than the relatively heavily explored paradigm of perioperative cardiac ischemia, is emerging as the dominant factor associated with excess risk of prolonged postoperative morbidity. The development of prospective, validated, time-sensitive morbidity data collection tools has also helped define patients at higher risk of noncardiac morbidities and short-term perioperative outcomes.

SUMMARY

Higher risk surgical patients present an increasingly major challenge for healthcare resource utilization. Detailed outcome studies using validated morbidity tools are urgently required to establish the extent to which postoperative morbidity may be predicted. Robust identification of patients at the highest risk of perioperative morbidity may permit further clinic-to-bench translational understanding of the pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying postoperative organ dysfunction. Defining the high-risk surgical patient population is as critically important for global public health planning as it is for the perioperative team.

Decreased mortality resulting from a multicomponent intervention in a tertiary care medical intensive care unit

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether a multicomponent intervention, particularly increasing staff, can achieve reductions in patient mortality in an already high-intensity, Leapfrog-compliant medical intensive care unit.

DESIGN

Retrospective, observational study.

SETTING

Medical intensive care unit of a tertiary care, academic medical center.

PATIENTS

A total of 1,263 patients admitted between April 19, 2004 and April 18, 2006 (before the organizational change) were compared with 2,424 patients admitted between September 5, 2006 and September 4, 2008.

INTERVENTIONS

A multicomponent intervention including the physical move from a 10-bed to a 29-bed medical intensive care unit with larger patient rooms, the initiation of 24-hr critical care specialist coverage in the medical intensive care unit, an increase in the respiratory therapist:patient ratio, and the addition of a clinical pharmacist to the multidisciplinary team.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Measurements were made based on mortality in the intensive care unit and in-hospital. Patient comorbidity as measured by the Charlson score did not change after the intervention (2.7 ± 2.7 vs. 2.8 ± 2.6, p = .62), nor did the acuity of illness as measured by the case mix index (3.0 ± 3.7 vs. 3.1 ± 3.8, p = .69). The unadjusted medical intensive care unit mortality decreased from 18.4% to 14.9% (p = .006), as did in-hospital mortality (from 25.8% to 21.7%, p = .005). The reduction in medical intensive care unit mortality was consistent in the multivariable regression with adjustment for multiple possible confounders (odds ratio = 0.74, 95% confidence interval: 0.61-0.91, p = .003), as was the reduction in hospital mortality (odds ratio = 0.74, 95% confidence interval: 0.62-0.88, p = .001). In mechanically ventilated patients, there was an increase in median 28-day ventilator-free days (21, interquartile range 0-25 vs. 22, interquartile range 0-26, p = .04). An increase in median medical intensive care unit (2.4, interquartile range 1.1-5.2 vs. 2.7, interquartile range 1.3-5.9), p = .009) but not hospital (8.3, interquartile range 4.1-17.0 vs. 8.2, interquartile range 4.0-16.8; p = .851) length of stay in days occurred with the intervention. The mean daily dosing of fentanyl and lorazepam decreased after the intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

A multicomponent reorganization of medical intensive care unit services was associated with important reductions in mortality for medical intensive care unit patients, as well as an increased number of ventilator-free days. Substantial and sustained changes in clinically important outcomes may be obtained from organizational changes.

Critical care: the impact of organization and management on outcomes

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The organization and management of ICUs are key components that can affect delivery and outcome of critical care.

RECENT FINDINGS

At the healthcare system level, the provision of critical care services and the presence of a regionalized system of critical care delivery may improve optimal matching of patient severity with level of care and is associated with improved patient outcomes. In hospitals, rapid response teams and step-down beds affect admission and discharge criteria to and from the ICU, although the influence on outcome is unclear. And within the ICU, the presence of intensivists, physically or via telemedicine, and multidisciplinary teams may promote better use of therapeutic and preventive measures with improved patient outcomes. Recent findings also emphasize that strategies that promote teamwork and communication, standardize processes of care, emphasize engagement in quality improvement, and provide a positive safety culture are associated with improved patient outcomes and staff morale.

SUMMARY

Evidence suggests the implementation of some ICU organizational and managerial patterns are associated with improved patient and staff outcomes. Broader adoption of some of these strategies could, therefore, improve overall critical care delivery.

A low cost device for monitoring the urine output of critical care patients

In critical care units most of the patients' physiological parameters are sensed by commercial monitoring devices. These devices can also supervise whether the values of the parameters lie within a pre-established range set by the clinician. The automation of the sensing and supervision tasks has discharged the healthcare staff of a considerable workload and avoids human errors, which are common in repetitive and monotonous tasks. Urine output is very likely the most relevant physiological parameter that has yet to be sensed or supervised automatically. This paper presents a low cost patent-pending device capable of sensing and supervising urine output. The device uses reed switches activated by a magnetic float in order to measure the amount of urine collected in two containers which are arranged in cascade. When either of the containers fills, it is emptied automatically using a siphon mechanism and urine begins to collect again. An electronic unit sends the state of the reed switches via Bluetooth to a PC that calculates the urine output from this information and supervises the achievement of therapeutic goals.

Impact of Admission Time on Mortality in an Indian Intensive Care Unit With Round-the-Clock Intensivist Coverage

Higher mortality in patients admitted during off hours has been attributed to inadequate staffing, but only a few studies have assessed the impact of 24-hour intensivist coverage on ICU mortality. We aimed to assess the impact of admission time on mortality for patients admitted to an ICU with 24-hour in-house intensivist coverage through a retrospective study analyzing data from all admissions to a medical ICU over 15 months. Patients were divided into 2 groups by time of ICU admission: regular hours (Monday-Saturday 9 am to 5 pm) and off hours (Monday-Saturday 5 pm to 9 am, Sunday). Patients were compared with regard to demographics, severity of illness, ICU course, and ICU outcome. Primary outcome measure was ICU mortality. Of 653 admissions, 391 (59.9%) were admitted during off hours. There was no significant difference in age, sex, severity of illness, need for organ support, and ICU stay. ICU mortality was 14.9% and 16.4% in regular and off hours, respectively ( P = .689). Relative risk of death for admission in after hours was 1.018 (95% CI, 0.952-1.088), with the odds ratio of dying being 1.119 (95% CI, 0.726-1.726). We concluded that full-time intensivist coverage ensures continuity of care. Hence, off-hour admissions may not be associated with any increased mortality.

Demand for nursing care for patients in intensive care units in Southeast Poland

BACKGROUND

The Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System is widely used in both Western Europe and the United States to assess the level of patients' need for nursing care. Poland currently has 3 types of intensive care according to a territorial division of the country and the scope of medical treatment offered: poviat, voivodeship, and clinical.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the need for nursing care for patients in the 3 types of intensive care units in southeastern Poland.

METHODS

The investigation was conducted at 6 intensive care units in southeastern Poland in 2005 and 2006. Two units were randomly selected from each type of intensive care unit. A total of 155 patients from the units were categorized according to scores on the Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System 28.

RESULTS

Among the 3 types of units, patients varied significantly with respect to age, length of hospitalization, and scores on the Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System 28. Nevertheless, demand for nursing care during night and day shifts was similar in all 3 types. On the basis of the patients' scores, all 3 types of units provided appropriate staffing levels necessary to meet the demands for nursing care. Most patients required category III level of care.

CONCLUSION

Need or demand for nursing care in intensive care units in Poland varies according to the type of intensive care unit and can be determined on the basis of scores on the Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System 28.

Cascade iatrogenesis: factors leading to the development of adverse events in hospitalized older adults

Older adults are at particular risk for injuries associated with hospitalization and the rate of adverse events increases significantly with age. The purpose of this paper is to review factors associated with the development of adverse events in hospitalized older adults, especially those factors that contribute to cascade iatrogenesis. Cascade iatrogenesis is the serial development of multiple medical complications that can be set in motion by a seemingly innocuous first event [Rothschild, J.M., Bates, D.W., Leape, L.L., 2000. Preventable medical injuries in older patients. Archieves of Internal Medicine 160 (October), 2717-2728]. Research has examined how patient characteristics may lead to cascade iatrogenesis, but existing conceptual models and research have not considered the role of nursing care. Using the outcome postoperative respiratory failure as an example, we expand on existing knowledge about factors associated with older adults' risk for developing this complication by presenting a conceptual model of events that may trigger the initial cascade and the nursing care variables that may prevent or mitigate these risks. We believe that this model will help guide research in this area and enable clinicians to identify systemic failures and develop targeted interventions to prevent their occurrence.

Advanced closed loops during mechanical ventilation (PAV, NAVA, ASV, SmartCare)

New modes of mechanical ventilation with advanced closed loops are now available, and in the future these could assume a greater role in supporting critically ill patients in intensive care units (ICUs) for several reasons. Two modes of ventilation--proportional assist ventilation and neurally adjusted ventilatory assist--deliver assisted ventilation proportional to the patient's effort, improving patient-ventilator synchrony. Also, a few systems that automate the medical reasoning with advanced closed-loops, such as SmartCare and adaptive support ventilation, have the potential to improve knowledge transfer by continuously implementing automated protocols. Moreover, they may improve patient-ventilator interactions and outcomes, and provide a partial solution to the forecast clinician shortages by reducing ICU-related costs, time spent on mechanical ventilation, and staff workload. Preliminary studies are promising, and initial systems are currently being refined with increasing clinical experience. A new era of mechanical ventilation should emerge with these systems.

Dermatological patient safety: problems and solutions

BACKGROUND

Patient safety issues are the forefront of delivering effective quality healthcare. The fast pace and high volume of dermatology practice presents an opportunity for new research on error prevention and patient safety.

OBJECTIVE

To identify areas of concern in patient safety to introduce starting points for new improvement projects in dermatology.

METHODS

Aliterature search was performed using the PubMed database with the search terms 'patient safety' and 'quality of care'. The articles were categorized into three topics concerning patient safety research: safety in treatment and procedures received; safety issues related to facility infrastructure; and human resource management.

RESULTS

Many issues identified as healthcare shortcomings such as wrong site surgery, patient misidentification, specimen errors, medication errors, communication failure, poor teamwork, healthcare worker management defects, and facility safety design problems were discussed in the literature. Each of these requires exploration with new safety initiatives for resolution. Alimitation included omitting pieces on occupational health and safety that could contribute to overall patient safety. Our search also included only data from one database.

CONCLUSIONS

Patient safety is an ever-evolving process requiring continuous attention by practicing physicians including dermatologists, healthcare staff, patients, and research scholars to discover and implement new safety initiatives for overall healthcare improvement.