The effect of implementing high-intensity intensive care unit staffing model on outcome of critically ill oncology patients

Patient Outcomes and Unit Composition With Transition to a High-Intensity ICU Staffing Model: A Before-and-After Study

Provider staffing models for ICUs are generally based on pragmatic necessities and historical norms at individual institutions. A better understanding of the role that provider staffing models play in determining patient outcomes and optimizing use of ICU resources is needed.

OBJECTIVES

To explore the impact of transitioning from a low- to high-intensity intensivist staffing model on patient outcomes and unit composition.

DESIGN SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

This was a prospective observational before-and-after study of adult ICU patients admitted to a single community hospital ICU before (October 2016-May 2017) and after (June 2017-November 2017) the transition to a high-intensity ICU staffing model.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The primary outcome was 30-day all-cause mortality. Secondary outcomes included in-hospital mortality, ICU length of stay (LOS), and unit composition characteristics including type (e.g., medical, surgical) and purpose (ICU-specific intervention vs close monitoring only) of admission.

RESULTS

For the primary outcome, 1,219 subjects were included (779 low-intensity, 440 high-intensity). In multivariable analysis, the transition to a high-intensity staffing model was not associated with a decrease in 30-day (odds ratio [OR], 0.90; 95% CI, 0.61-1.34; p = 0.62) or in-hospital (OR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.57-1.38; p = 0.60) mortality, nor ICU LOS. However, the proportion of patients admitted to the ICU without an ICU-specific need did decrease under the high-intensity staffing model (27.2% low-intensity to 17.5% high-intensity; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Multivariable analysis showed no association between transition to a high-intensity ICU staffing model and mortality or LOS outcomes; however, the proportion of patients admitted without an ICU-specific need decreased under the high-intensity model. Further research is needed to determine whether a high-intensity staffing model may lead to more efficient ICU bed usage.

Clinical impact of physician staffing transition in intensive care units: a retrospective observational study

Background

Intensivists play an essential role in improving the outcomes of critically ill patients in intensive care units (ICUs). The transition of ICU physician staffing from low-intensity ICUs (elective intensivist or no intensivist consultation) to high-intensity ICUs (mandatory intensivist consultation or a closed ICU) improves clinical outcomes. However, whether a transition from high-intensity to low-intensity ICU staffing affects ICU outcomes and quality of care remains unknown.

Methods

A retrospective observational study was conducted to examine the impact of high- versus low-intensity staffing models on all-cause mortality in a suburban secondary community hospital with 400 general beds and 8 ICU beds. The ICU was switched from a high-intensity staffing model (high-former period) to low-intensity staffing in July 2019 (low-mid period) and then back to high-intensity staffing in March 2020 (high-latter period). Patients admitted from the emergency department, general ward, or operating room after emergency surgery were enrolled in these three periods and compared, balancing the predicted mortality and covariates of the patients. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality analyzed using hazard ratios (HRs) from Cox proportional hazards regression. An interrupted time-series analysis (ITSA) was also conducted to evaluate the effects of events (level change) and time.

Results

There were 962 eligible admissions, of which 251, 213, and 498 occurred in the high-former, low-mid, and high-latter periods, respectively. In the matched group (n = 600), the all-cause mortality rate comparing the high-former period with the low-mid period showed an HR of 0.88 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.56, 1.39; p = 0.58] and that comparing the high-latter period with the low-mid period showed an HR of 0.84 [95% CI, 0.54, 1.30; p = 0.43]. The result for comparison between the three periods was p = 0.80. ITSA showed level changes of 4.05% [95% CI, -13.1, 21.2; p = 0.63] when ICU staffing changed from the high-former to the low-mid period and 1.35% [95% CI, -13.8, 16.5; p = 0.86] when ICU staffing changed from the low-mid to the high-latter period.

Conclusion

There was no statistically significant difference in all-cause mortality among the three ICU staffing periods. This study suggests that low-intensity ICU staffing might not worsen clinical outcomes in the ICU in a medium-sized community hospital. Multiple factors, including the presence of an intensivist, other medical staff, and practical guidelines, influence the prognosis of critically ill patients.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12871-022-01905-0.

Comparison of the clinical features in open and closed format intensive care units: A systematic review and meta-analysis

IMPORTANCE

The difference in clinical outcomes between closed and open designs of intensive care units (ICUs) is still an open question.

OBJECTIVE

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to compare total mortality, hospital and ICU length of stay (LOS) and mortality as primary outcomes, and severity of illness based on physiological variables, organ failure assessment, age, duration of mechanical ventilation and ventilator-associated pneumonia frequency as secondary outcomes in closed and open ICUs.

EVIDENCE REVIEW

Medline, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane database, Iran-doc and Elm-net according to the MeSH terms were searched from 1988 to October 2019. The standardised mean difference (SMD), relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were applied to display summary statistics of primary and secondary outcomes.

FINDINGS

A total of 90 studies with 444,042 participants were analysed. ICU mortality (RR: 1.16, CI: 1.07-1.27, p < 0.001), hospital mortality (RR: 1.12, CI: 1.03-1.22, p = 0.010) and ICU LOS (SMD: 0.43, CI: 0.01-0.85, p = 0.040) were significantly higher in open ICUs. Total mortality (RR: 0.91, CI: 0.77-1.08, p = 0.28) and hospital LOS (SMD: 1.14, CI: 1.31-3.59, p = 0.36) showed no significant difference between the two types of ICU. The secondary outcome measures were also comparable between the two ICU formats (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

The results demonstrated superiority of closed versus open ICUs in hospital and ICU mortality rates and ICU LOS, with no difference in total mortality, hospital LOS or severity of illness parameters. The superiority of the closed ICU format may be a result of the intensivist-led patient care and should therefore be implemented by clinicians to decrease ICU mortality rates and LOS for critically ill patients.

The Development of Critical Care Medicine in China: From SARS to COVID-19 Pandemic

BACKGROUND

Critical care medicine is a branch of medical science that deals with the characteristics and regularity of life-threatening processes initiated by any injury or disease and, accordingly, relevant treatment for patients with critical illness. Conceptions of critical care medicine in China stemmed in the early 1970s. Ever since the establishment of the first intensive care unit (ICU) along with the increasingly incomparable role of ICU in medical practices, critical care medicine has become an indispensable part of the Chinese medical and health system. Currently, critical care medicine as a secondary clinical discipline and a well-constructed science is in sustainable development on the way towards systematization and standardization.

METHODS

The gross domestic product (GDP) and population data were obtained from the National Bureau of Statistics. The number of ICUs, ICU beds, and hospital beds and other data regarding ICU staffing and facility resources were obtained from the Yearbook of Health in the People's Republic of China and National Bureau of Statistics. The mortality rates of SARS and COVID-19 and the number of health workers aiding Hubei amid COVID-19 pandemic were obtained from the National Health Commission. Findings. Critical care medicine in mainland China has made significant strides: both quantity and quality are progressing at a fast pace after SARS in 2003. Although there exist some disparities in healthcare personnel and medical resources, they have not hindered the country from mobilizing its healthcare workers and resources against a public health emergency.

Intensivists' Direct Management without Residents May Improve the Survival Rate Compared to High-Intensity Intensivist Staffing in Academic Intensive Care Units: Retrospective and Crossover Study Design

BACKGROUND

Medical staff members are concentrated in the intensive care unit (ICU), and medical residents are essentially needed to operate the ICU. However, the recent trend has been to restrict resident working hours. This restriction may lead to a shortage of ICU staff, and there is a chance that regional academic hospitals will face running ICUs without residents in the near future.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective observational study (intensivist crossover design) of medical patients who were transferred to two ICUs from general wards between September 2017 and February 2019 at one academic hospital. We compared the ICU outcomes according to the ICU type (ICU with resident management under high-intensity intensivist staffing vs. ICU with direct management by intensivists without residents).

RESULTS

Of 314 enrolled patients, 70 were primarily managed by residents, and 244 were directly managed by intensivists. The latter patients showed better ICU mortality (29.9% vs. 42.9%, P = 0.042), lower cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) (10.2% vs. 21.4%, P = 0.013), lower continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) (24.2% vs. 40.0%, P = 0.009), and more advanced care planning decisions before death (87.3% vs. 66.7%, P = 0.013) than the former patients. The better ICU mortality (hazard ratio, 1.641; P = 0.035), lower CPR (odds ratio [OR], 2.891; P = 0.009), lower CRRT (OR, 2.602; P = 0.005), and more advanced care planning decisions before death (OR, 4.978; P = 0.007) were also associated with intensivist direct management in the multivariate cox and logistic regression analysis.

CONCLUSION

Intensivist direct management might be associated with better ICU outcomes than resident management under the supervision of an intensivist. Further large-scale prospective randomized trials are required to draw a definitive conclusion.

Mortality rate and other clinical features observed in Open vs closed format intensive care units: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Nowadays most of the intensive care units (ICUs) operate as a closed format in comparison to an open format. The new concept of a closed ICU is where patients are admitted under the full responsibility of a trained intensivist, whereas an open ICU is where patients are admitted under the care of another attending physician and intensivists are just available for consultation. In this analysis, we aimed to systematically compare mortality rate and other clinical features observed in open vs closed ICU formats.

METHODS

Biomedical and pharmacological bibliographic database Excerpta Medica database (EMBASE), Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE), the Cochrane Central and www.ClinicalTrials.gov were searched for required English publications. Mortality, the frequency of patients requiring mechanical ventilation, central line, arterial line and pulmonary arterial catheter were assessed respectively. Statistical analysis was carried out by the RevMan software. Odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to represent the data following analysis.

RESULTS

Five studies with a total number of 6160 participants enrolled between years 1992 to 2007 were included. Results of this analysis showed that mortality rate was significantly higher in the open format ICU (OR: 1.31, 95% CI: 1.17-1.48; P = .00001) (using a fixed effect model) and (OR: 1.31, 95% CI: 1.09-1.59; P = .005) (using a random effect model). Closed format ICUs were associated with significantly higher number of patients that required central line (OR: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.34-0.92; P = .02). Patients requiring mechanical ventilation (OR: 1.08, 95% CI: 0.65-1.78; P = .77), patients requiring arterial line (OR: 1.05, 95% CI: 0.49-2.29; P = .89) and patients requiring pulmonary arterial catheter (OR: 0.86, 95% CI: 0.40-1.87; P = .71) were similar in the open vs the closed setting.

CONCLUSION

This analysis showed that mortality rate was significantly higher in an open as compared to a closed format ICU. However, the frequency of patients requiring mechanical ventilation, arterial line and pulmonary arterial catheter was similarly observed. Larger trials are expected to further confirm those hypotheses.

Is 24/7 In-House Intensivist Staffing Necessary in the Intensive Care Unit?

Over the past few decades, an increasing number of studies have shown that intensivist-staffed intensive care units (ICUs) lead to overall economic benefits and improved patient outcomes, including shorter length of stay and lower rates of complications and mortality. This body of evidence has convinced advocacy groups to adopt this staffing model as a standard of care in the ICU so that more hospitals are offering around-the-clock intensivist coverage. Even so, opponents have pointed to high ICU staffing costs and a shortage of physicians trained in critical care as barriers to implementing this model. While these arguments may hold true in low-acuity, low-volume ICUs, evidence has shown that in high-acuity, high-volume centers such as teaching hospitals and tertiary care centers, the benefits outweigh the costs. This article explores the history of intensivists and critical care, the arguments for 24/7 ICU staffing, and outcomes in various ICU settings but is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all controversies surrounding continuous ICU staffing.

The burden of not-weighted factors - Nursing workload in a medical Intensive Care Unit

OBJECTIVES

Body weight and infection status affect nursing workload and are not accounted for in the Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System 28 (TISS-28) and Nine Equivalents of Nursing Manpower Use Score (NEMS). The objective of this study was to analyse the correlation between weight and infection status with TISS 28 and NEMS in a cohort of medical Intensive Care Unit patients.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

A retrospective observational trial was conducted on the nursing records of 26 randomly selected patients over a 12-month period. TISS-28 and NEMS were calculated for each day of ICU stay. Infectious status was determined based on positive cultures to multi-resistant organisms while overweight and obesity were based on Body Mass Index.

RESULTS

A total of 809 nursing shifts' activity records were analysed. There were 12 infected patients that required isolation, 14 overweight patients and 3 obese: 9 patients presented both conditions. Only the presence of both conditions was statistically associated with an increase in workload (TISS-28p-value = 0.041 and NEMS p-value = 0.011).

CONCLUSIONS

Although TISS-28 and NEMS do not specifically consider body weight and infection status, their integration into nursing workload scores may improve the accuracy as management tools, increasing the quality of the cares provided.

Critical Care Resources in Guangdong Province of China: Three Surveys from 2005 to 2015

OBJECTIVES

Data about the critical care resources in China remain scarce. The purpose of this study was to investigate the variation and distribution of critical care resources in Guangdong province from 2005 to 2015.

DESIGN

Data in regard to critical care resources were collected through questionnaires and visits every 5 years from 2005.

SETTING

All hospitals in Guangdong province were screened and hospitals that provide critical care services were enrolled.

INTERVENTION

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

One hundred eleven, 158, and 284 hospitals that provide critical care services were enrolled in the three consecutive surveys respectively. The number of ICUs, ICU beds, intensivists, and nurses increased to 324, 3,956, 2,470, and 7,695, respectively, by 2015. Adjusted by population, the number of ICU beds per 100,000 (100,000) population increased by 147.7% from 2005 to 2015, and the number of intensivists and nurses per 100,000 population increased by 35.3% and 55.1% from 2011 to 2015. However, the numbers in the Pearl River Delta, a richer area, were higher than those in the non-Pearl River Delta area (ICU beds: 4.64 vs 2.58; intensivists: 2.90 vs 1.61; nurses: 9.30 vs 4.71 in 2015). In terms of staff training, only 17.85% of intensivists and 14.29% of nurses have completed a formal accredited critical care training program by 2015.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study was the first one to investigate the trend and distribution of critical care resources in China. The quantity of ICU beds and staff has been increasing rapidly, but professional training for staff was inadequate. The distribution of critical care resources was unbalanced. Our study can be beneficial for healthcare policymaking and the allocation of critical care resources in Guangdong province and other provinces in China.

The Intensive Care Medicine research agenda on critically ill oncology and hematology patients

Over the coming years, accelerating progress against cancer will be associated with an increased number of patients who require life-sustaining therapies for infectious or toxic chemotherapy-related events. Major changes include increased number of cancer patients admitted to the ICU with full-code status or for time-limited trials, increased survival and quality of life in ICU survivors, changing prognostic factors, early ICU admission for optimal monitoring, and use of noninvasive diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. In this review, experts in the management of critically ill cancer patients highlight recent changes in the use and the results of intensive care in patients with malignancies. They seek to put forward a standard of care for the management of these patients and highlight important updates that are required to care for them. The research agenda they suggest includes important studies to be conducted in the next few years to increase our understanding of organ dysfunction in this population and to improve our ability to appropriately use life-saving therapies or select new therapeutic approaches that are likely to improve outcomes. This review aims to provide more guidance for the daily management of patients with cancer, in whom outcomes are constantly improving, as is our global ability to fight against what is becoming the leading cause of mortality in industrialized and non-industrialized countries.

Effects of Organizational Characteristics on Outcomes and Resource Use in Patients With Cancer Admitted to Intensive Care Units

PURPOSE

To investigate the impact of organizational characteristics and processes of care on hospital mortality and resource use in patients with cancer admitted to intensive care units (ICUs).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We performed a retrospective cohort study of 9,946 patients with cancer (solid, n = 8,956; hematologic, n = 990) admitted to 70 ICUs (51 located in general hospitals and 19 in cancer centers) during 2013. We retrieved patients' clinical and outcome data from an electronic ICU quality registry. We surveyed ICUs regarding structure, organization, staffing patterns, and processes of care. We used mixed multivariable logistic regression analysis to identify characteristics associated with hospital mortality and efficient resource use in the ICU.

RESULTS

Median number of patients with cancer per center was 110 (interquartile range, 58 to 154), corresponding to 17.9% of all ICU admissions. ICU and hospital mortality rates were 15.9% and 25.4%, respectively. After adjusting for relevant patient characteristics, presence of clinical pharmacists in the ICU (odds ratio [OR], 0.67; 95% CI, 0.49 to 0.90), number of protocols (OR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.87 to 0.98), and daily meetings between oncologists and intensivists for care planning (OR, 0.69; 95% CI, 0.52 to 0.91) were associated with lower mortality. Implementation of protocols (OR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.11 to 2.07) and meetings between oncologists and intensivists (OR, 4.70; 95% CI, 1.15 to 19.22) were also independently associated with more efficient resource use. Neither admission to ICUs in cancer centers compared with general hospitals nor annual case volume had an impact on mortality or resource use.

CONCLUSION

Organizational aspects, namely the implementation of protocols and presence of clinical pharmacists in the ICU, and close collaboration between oncologists and ICU teams are targets to improve mortality and resource use in critically ill patients with cancer.

Predictors of ICU Admission in Patients With Cancer and the Related Characteristics and Outcomes: A 5-Year Registry-Based Study

OBJECTIVE

To identify factors predictive of admission of patients with cancer to an ICU. In addition, the study aimed to describe the characteristics and outcomes, both short-term and long-term, of patients with cancer admitted to the ICU.

DESIGN

Retrospective case-control study, utilizing the institution's cancer registry.

SETTING

Comprehensive cancer center.

PATIENTS

Patients with cancer. The case group consisted of patients who required ICU admission during the study period, whereas the control group consisted of patients who did not require ICU admission.

INTERVENTION

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

The patient characteristics and outcomes were recorded. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to determine factors associated with ICU admission. The registry included 10,792 patients, and among those, 2,439 patients (22.6%) required ICU admission after a median of 10.1 months (interquartile range, 3.28-25.2). The following factors were associated with ICU admission: hematologic malignancy (odds ratio, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.26-1.81), chemotherapy (odds ratio, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.48-2.03), advanced cancer (odds ratio, 2.57; 95% CI, 1.44-4.60), and smoking (odds ratio, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.20-1.61). The most common ICU admission diagnoses were sepsis (21.5%) and respiratory insufficiency/failure (25.7%). The ICU mortality was 36.5%, whereas the 1-year and 5-year survival rates were 22.8% and 14.2%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

In a comprehensive cancer center, about one fourth of the patients required ICU admission. Addressing modifiable risk factors associated with ICU admission is essential to potentially reduce ICU admissions and improve long-term survival.

Critical Care Implications of the Affordable Care Act

OBJECTIVES

To provide an overview of key elements of the Affordable Care Act. To evaluate ways in which the Affordable Care Act will likely impact the practice of critical care medicine. To describe strategies that may help health systems and providers effectively adapt to changes brought about by the Affordable Care Act.

DATA SOURCES AND SYNTHESIS

Data sources for this concise review include search results from the PubMed and Embase databases, as well as sources relevant to public policy such as the text of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and reports of the Congressional Budget Office. As all of the Affordable Care Act's provisions will not be fully implemented until 2019, we also drew upon cost, population, and utilization projections, as well as the experience of existing state-based healthcare reforms.

CONCLUSIONS

The Affordable Care Act represents the furthest reaching regulatory changes in the U.S. healthcare system since the 1965 Medicare and Medicaid provisions of the Social Security Act. The Affordable Care Act aims to expand health insurance coverage to millions of Americans and place an emphasis on quality and cost-effectiveness of care. From models which link pay and performance to those which center on episodic care, the Affordable Care Act outlines sweeping changes to health systems, reimbursement structures, and the delivery of critical care. Staffing models that include daily rounding by an intensivist, palliative care integration, and expansion of the role of telemedicine in areas where intensivists are inaccessible are potential strategies that may improve quality and profitability of ICU care in the post-Affordable Care Act era.

How Do Residents Spend Their Time in the Intensive Care Unit?

PURPOSE

To describe the work of residents and the distribution of their time in 6 intensive care units (ICUs) of 2 medical centers (MCs).

METHODS

A total of 242 hours of observation to capture data on tasks performed by residents in 6 ICUs, including adult, pediatric, medical and surgical units, were conducted. For each observation period, the percentages of total time spent on each task and on the aggregated task categories were calculated.

RESULTS

Overall, while in the ICUs, residents spent almost half of their time in clinical review and documentation (19%), conversation with team physicians (16%), conversation attendance (6%) and order management (6%). The 2 MCs differed in the time that residents spent on administrative review and documentation (4% in one MC and 15% in the other). The pediatric ICUs were similar in the 2 MCs, whereas the adult ICUs exhibited differences in the time spent on order management and administrative review and documentation.

CONCLUSIONS

While in the ICUs, residents spent most time performing direct patient care and care coordination activities. The distribution of activities varied across 2 MCs and across ICUs, which highlights the need to consider the local context on residents' work in ICUs.

Effect of nebulized colistin on the ventilator circuit: a prospective pilot case- control study from a single cancer center

Nebulized colistin (NC) is used for the treatment of pneumonia due to multidrug- resistant Gram-negative bacteria. In this one-year case-control study, our objective was to evaluate the effect of NC on the ventilator circuit (VC) components. The case group consisted of 25 mechanically-ventilated patients who received NC for the treatment of nosocomial pneumonia while the control group was 25 mechanically-ventilated patients who did not receive NC. Respiratory therapists inspected the VC every 4 hrs and whenever a ventilator alarm was reported. The VC component was changed if the alarm did not subside after necessary measures were performed. Patients from both groups were treated at the adult medical/surgical intensive care unit at King Hussein Cancer Center. In the case group, 22 (88%) patients required changing at least one of the circuit components (flow sensor, exhalation membrane, or nebulizer kit). The median number of changes (range) per patient of the flow sensor, exhalation membrane, and nebulizer kit were: 2 (1–3), 2 (1–6), and 1 (1–2), respectively. Large amounts of white crystals, which resembled the colistin powder, were reported on the replaced VC components. The flow sensor was changed in 2 control patients, but white crystals were absent. Crystals obtained from one case subject were confirmed to be colistin by chromatographic mass spectroscopy. Further studies are needed to evaluate the effect of crystal formation on the efficacy of NC and clinical outcomes.

The opportunity cost of futile treatment in the ICU*

OBJECTIVE

When used to prolong life without achieving a benefit meaningful to the patient, critical care is often considered "futile." Although futile treatment is acknowledged as a misuse of resources by many, no study has evaluated its opportunity cost, that is, how it affects care for others. Our objective was to evaluate delays in care when futile treatment is provided.

DESIGN

For 3 months, we surveyed critical care physicians in five ICUs to identify patients that clinicians identified as receiving futile treatment. We identified days when an ICU was full and contained at least one patient who was receiving futile treatment. For those days, we evaluated the number of patients waiting for ICU admission more than 4 hours in the emergency department or more than 1 day at an outside hospital.

SETTING

One health system that included a quaternary care medical center and an affiliated community hospital.

PATIENTS

Critically ill patients.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Boarding time in the emergency department and waiting time on the transfer list. Thirty-six critical care specialists made 6,916 assessments on 1,136 patients of whom 123 were assessed to receive futile treatment. A full ICU was less likely to contain a patient receiving futile treatment compared with an ICU with available beds (38% vs 68%, p < 0.001). On 72 (16%) days, an ICU was full and contained at least one patient receiving futile treatment. During these days, 33 patients boarded in the emergency department for more than 4 hours after admitted to the ICU team, nine patients waited more than 1 day to be transferred from an outside hospital, and 15 patients canceled the transfer request after waiting more than 1 day. Two patients died while waiting to be transferred.

CONCLUSIONS

Futile critical care was associated with delays in care to other patients.

Impact of a surgical intensivist on the clinical outcomes of patients admitted to a surgical intensive care unit

Purpose

An intensivist is a key factor in the mortality of patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of an intensivist on clinical outcomes of patients admitted to a surgical ICU.

Methods

During the study period, the surgical ICU was converted from an open ICU to an intensivist-directed ICU managed by an intensivist who was board certified in both general surgery and critical care medicine. We compared consecutive patients admitted to the surgical ICU before and after implementing the intensivist-directed care. The primary outcome was ICU mortality, and secondary outcomes were hospital mortality, 90-day mortality, length of hospital stay, ICU-free days, ventilator-free days, and ICU readmission rate.

Results

A total of 441 patients were included in this study: 188 before implementation of the intensivist and 253 after implementation. Clinical characteristics were not different between the two groups. ICU mortality decreased from 11.7% to 6.3% (P = 0.047) after implementation, and 90-day mortality also decreased significantly (P = 0.008). The adjusted hazard ratio of the intensivist for ICU mortality was 0.43 (95% confidence interval, 0.22-0.87; P = 0.020). ICU-free days (P = 0.013) and the hospital length of stay (P = 0.032) were significantly improved after implementing the intensivist-directed care. Before implementation period, 16.0% of patients were readmitted, compared with only 9.9% after implementation (P = 0.05).

Conclusion

Implementing intensivist-directed care in the surgical ICU was associated with significant improvements in ICU mortality and significant clinical outcomes.

Evaluating the effectiveness and safety of hydrocortisone therapy in cancer patients with septic shock

PURPOSE

To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of hydrocortisone (HC) in cancer patients with septic shock.

METHODS

This was a retrospective study of adult cancer patients with septic shock who received low-dose HC therapy (200 mg/day). The effectiveness of HC was assessed by determining the proportion of patients with reversal of septic shock, time to reversal, and mortality. The safety was assessed by determining the incidences of hyperglycemia, hypernatremia, and secondary infections, using a case-control approach.

RESULTS

During the study period, 96 patients were enrolled. Reversal of septic shock was reported in 46 (47.9%) patients, median time to reversal was 1.9 days (range 0.2-7.6), ICU mortality was reported in 62 (65.26%) patients, and 28-day mortality in 64 (66.7%) patients. The incidence of secondary infections was higher in patients who received HC therapy, compared to patients who did not receive HC during septic shock: 44.8% vs 27.4%, P = 0.028.

CONCLUSIONS

HC therapy was associated with resolution of septic shock in about half of the patients and a high incidence of secondary infections. Prospective studies are needed to fully assess the efficacy and safety of HC in cancer patients with septic shock.

The relationship between in-house attending coverage and nighttime extubation following congenital heart surgery*

OBJECTIVES

Many cardiac ICUs have instituted 24/7 attending physician in-house coverage, which theoretically may allow for more expeditious weaning from ventilation and extubation. We aimed to determine whether this staffing strategy impacts rates of nighttime extubation and duration of mechanical ventilation.

DESIGN

National data were obtained from the Virtual PICU System database for all patients admitted to the cardiac ICU following congenital heart surgery in 2011 who required postoperative mechanical ventilation. Contemporaneous data from our local institution were collected in addition to the Virtual PICU System data. The combined dataset (n = 2,429) was divided based on the type of nighttime staffing model in order to compare rates of nighttime extubation and duration of mechanical ventilation between units that used an in-house attending staffing strategy and those that employed nighttime residents, fellows, or midlevel providers only.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Institutions that currently use 24/7 in-house attending coverage did not demonstrate statistically significant differences in rates of nighttime extubation or the duration of mechanical ventilation in comparison to units without in-house attendings. Younger patients cared for in non-in-house attending units were more likely to require reintubation.

CONCLUSIONS

Pediatric patients who have undergone congenital heart surgery can be safely and effectively extubated without the routine presence of an attending physician. The utilization of nighttime in-house attending coverage does not appear to have significant benefits on the rate of nighttime extubation and may not reduce the duration of mechanical ventilation in units that already use in-house residents, fellows, or other midlevel providers.

Adverse Drug Events in Critically Ill Patients With Cancer

Objective:

To determine the incidence, characteristics, and outcomes of adverse drug events (ADEs) in critically ill patients with cancer.

Methods:

This was a 5-month prospective observational study. Patients who were admitted to the adult medical/surgical oncology intensive care unit (ICU) were evaluated for any drug-related adverse events during their ICU stay. An ADE was defined as injury or patient harm resulting from medical intervention related to a drug.

Results:

The incidence rate of ADEs was 96.5 per 1000 patient days and 35.3 per 100 ICU admissions. Of the reported ADEs, 57 (64.8%) were serious/life threatening, 30 (34.1%) were significant, 1 (1.1%) was fatal, and 14 (15.9%) of all ADEs were considered preventable. The most common drug classes associated with ADEs were antidiabetics, antibiotics, and analgesics/sedatives. The length of stay and presence of renal or respiratory failure were significantly associated with an increased number of ADEs. The length of stay and female sex were significantly associated with the likelihood of developing an ADE.

Conclusion:

Critically ill patients with cancer are at high risk of developing ADEs. Strategies that reduce the incidence and severity of ADEs are essential to improve the outcomes of this patient population.

Drug utilization pattern and cost for the treatment of severe sepsis and septic shock in critically ill cancer patients

BACKGROUND

Cancer patients are at high risk for developing sepsis. To our knowledge, there are no studies that evaluated the type of medications utilized and the associated cost in cancer patients with severe sepsis and septic shock.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the drug utilization pattern and drug cost in the treatment of cancer patients with severe sepsis and septic shock.

SETTING

12-bed medical/surgical intensive care unit (ICU) of a comprehensive teaching cancer center.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study of cancer patients with severe sepsis or septic shock who were treated in the ICU between January and December, 2010. The ICU sepsis database was used to identify patients. The patient demographics and characteristics were recorded. In addition, the number and type of prescribed medications, total cost for each medication, type of infection, and culture results were determined.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

The main outcomes were the type of medication classes utilized and the cost of the medications.

RESULTS

During the study period, 116 cases were identified. Upon presentation, the mean Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) score was 21.8 (SD ± 7.8), 30 (25.9 %) patients had neutropenia, and 94 (81 %) had positive cultures. The total cost of the medications prescribed for this cohort of patients was 291,030 Euro. The mean number of medications prescribed per patient and the mean total cost per patient were 11.7 (SD ± 4.7) and 2,509 Euro (SD ± 2,844), respectively. The most commonly prescribed medication classes were acid suppressive therapy, glycopeptides, penicillins/cephalosporins and vasopressors prescribed in 113 (97 %), 104 (89.7 %), 103 (88.9 %), and 102 (88 %) patients, respectively. The highest medication costs were associated with antifungals (mean 1,288 Euro/patient) and colony stimulating factors (mean 829 Euro/patient), prescribed in 55 (47.4 %) and 37 (31.9 %) patients, respectively. Medication costs were higher in non-survivors, compared to survivors (3,664 Euro vs. 1,430 Euro, p = 0.0001), and in patients with positive cultures, compared to patients with negative cultures (3,198 Euro vs. 1,865 Euro, p = 0.0004).

CONCLUSION

In cancer patients with severe sepsis and septic shock, multiple medications are prescribed which are associated with high cost.

Predictors of cardiopulmonary arrest outcome in a comprehensive cancer center intensive care unit

BACKGROUND

Some comprehensive cancer centers in industrialized countries have reported improved outcomes in their cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA) patients. Little is known about the outcomes and predictors of CPA in cancer centers in other parts of the world. The objective of this study was to examine the predictors of CPA outcome in a comprehensive cancer center closed medical-surgical intensive care unit (ICU) located in Amman, Jordan.

METHODS

In this retrospective single-center cohort study, we identified 104 patients who had a CPA during their stay in the ICU between 1/1/2008 and 6/30/2009. Demographic data and CPA-related variables and outcome were extracted from medical records. Comparisons between different variables and CPA outcome were conducted using logistic regression.

RESULTS

The mean age of the group was 49.7 ± 15.3 years. The mean APACHE II score was 23.7 ± 8.0. Thirty six patients (34.6%) were resuscitated successfully but 8 of them (7.7% of the cohort) left the ICU alive and only 6 out of the 8 (5.8% of the cohort) left the hospital alive. The following variables predict resuscitation failure: acute kidney injury (OR 1.7, CI: 1.1-2.6), being on mechanical ventilation (OR 3.8, CI: 1.3-11), refractory shock (OR 4.7, CI: 1.8-12) and CPR duration (OR 1.1, CI: 1.1-1.2).

CONCLUSION

Survival among cancer patients who develop CPA in the ICU continues to be poor. Once cancer patients suffered a CPA in the ICU multiple factors predicted resuscitation failure but CPR duration was the only factor that predicted resuscitation failure and ICU as well as hospital mortality.

Adverse drug events resulting in admission to the intensive care unit in oncology patients: Incidence, characteristics and associated cost

Purpose:

Describe the incidence, characteristics and cost of adverse drug events that necessitate admission to the intensive care unit in oncology patients.

Methods:

This was a prospective observational 5-months study at a medical/surgical intensive care unit of a comprehensive teaching cancer center. Patients admitted to the intensive care unit were screened to determine whether the admission was due to an adverse drug event. The adverse drug events were characterized based on the suspected medication, system involved and preventability. Patient demographics, length of stay, mortality and the total patient charges during their intensive care unit stay were recorded.

Results:

During the study period, 249 patients were screened and an adverse drug event was the primary cause of 57 (22.9%) admissions. The most common medications associated with an adverse drug event requiring intensive care unit admission were antineoplastics ( n = 37), analgesics ( n = 9) and anticoagulants ( n = 4). Ten adverse drug events were considered preventable. The average length of stay for patients with adverse drug events resulting in intensive care unit admission was 6.2 days ±9.8 (SD) and the mortality rate was 28.1%. Hematological malignancy was independently associated with adverse drug events resulting in intensive care unit admission. The average patient charges for the intensive care unit stay was US$11,692 ± 17,529 (SD), which corresponded to about US$1.5 million in annual patient charges for a 12-bed intensive care unit at a cancer institution.

Conclusions:

Adverse drug events resulting in intensive care unit admission in oncology patients are common and often associated with significant morbidity, mortality, and cost.

The impact of implementing critical care team on open general intensive care unit

Background

There are a plethora of literatures showing that high-intensity intensive care unit (ICU) physician staffing is associated with reduced ICU mortality. However, it is not widely used in ICUs because of limited budgets and resources. We created a critical care team (CCT) to improve outcomes in an open general ICU and evaluated its effectiveness based on patients' outcomes.

Methods

We conducted this prospective, observational study in an open, general ICU setting, during a period ranging from March of 2009 to February of 2010. The CCT consisted of five teaching staffs. It provided rapid medical services within three hours after calls or consultation.

Results

We analyzed the data of 830 patients (157 patients of the CCT group and 673 patients of the non-CCT one). Patients of the CCT group presented more serious conditions than those of the non-CCT group (acute physiologic and chronic health evaluation II [APACHE II] 20.2 vs. 15.8, p<0.001; sequential organ failure assessment [SOFA] 5.5 vs. 4.6, p=0.003). The CCT group also had significantly more patients on mechanical ventilation than those in the non-CCT group (45.9% vs. 23.9%, p<0.001). Success rate of weaning was significantly higher in the CCT group than that of the non-CCT group (61.1% vs. 44.7%, p=0.021). On a multivariate logistic regression analysis, the increased ICU mortality was associated with the older age, non-CCT, higher APACHE II score, higher SOFA score and mechanical ventilation (p<0.05).

Conclusion

Although the CCT did not provide full-time services in an open general ICU setting, it might be associated with a reduced ICU mortality. This is particularly the case with patients on mechanical ventilation.

Refusal of intensive care unit admission due to a full unit: impact on mortality

RATIONALE

Intensive care unit (ICU) beds are a scarce resource, and patients denied intensive care only because the unit is full may be at increased risk of death.

OBJECTIVE

To compare mortality after first ICU referral in admitted patients and in patients denied admission because the unit was full.

METHODS

Prospective observational multicenter cohort study of consecutive patients referred for ICU admission during two 45-day periods, conducted in 10 ICUs.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Of 1,762 patients, 430 were excluded from the study, 116 with previously denied admission to another ICU and 270 because they were deemed too sick or too well to benefit from ICU admission. Of the remaining 1,332 patients, 1,139 were admitted, and 193 were denied admission because the unit was full (65 were never admitted, 39 were admitted after bumping of another patient, and 89 were admitted on subsequent referral). Crude Day 28 and Day 60 mortality rates in the nonadmitted and admitted groups were 30.1 versus 24.3% (P = 0.07) and 33.3 versus 27.2% (P = 0.06), respectively. Day 28 mortality adjusted on age, previous disease, Glasgow scale score less than or equal to 8, shock, creatinine level greater than or equal to 250 μmol/L, and prothrombin time greater than or equal to 30 seconds was nonsignificantly higher in patients refused ICU admission only because of a full unit compared with patients admitted immediately. Patients admitted after subsequent referral had higher mortality rates on Day 28 (P = 0.05) and Day 60 (P = 0.04) compared with directly admitted patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Delayed ICU admission due to a full unit at first referral is associated with increased mortality.

Physician staffing pattern in intensive care units: Have we cracked the code?

Intensive care is slowly being recognized as a separate medical specialization. Physicians, called intensivists, are being specially trained to manage intensive care units (ICUs) and provide focused, high quality care to critically ill patients. However, these ICUs were traditionally managed by primary physicians who used to admit patients in ICUs under their own care. The presence of specially trained intensivists in these ICUs has started a "turf" war. In spite of the availability of overwhelming evidence that intensivists-based ICUs can provide better patient care leading to improved outcome, there is hesitancy among hospital administrators and other policy makers towards adopting such a model. Major critical care societies and workgroups have recommended intensivists-based ICU models to care for critically ill patients, but even in developed countries, on-site intensivist coverage is lacking in a great majority of hospitals. Lack of funds and unavailability of skilled intensivists are commonly cited as the main reasons for not implementing intensivist-led ICU care in most of the ICUs. To provide optimal, comprehensive and skilled care to this severely ill patient population, it is imperative that a multi-disciplinary team approach must be adopted with intensivists as in-charge. Even though ICU organization and staffing may be determined by hospital policies and other local factors, all efforts must be made to attain the goal of having round-the-clock onsite intensivist coverage to ensure continuity of specialized care for all critically ill patients.

Physician staffing pattern in intensive care units: Have we cracked the code?

Intensive care is slowly being recognized as a separate medical specialization. Physicians, called intensivists, are being specially trained to manage intensive care units (ICUs) and provide focused, high quality care to critically ill patients. However, these ICUs were traditionally managed by primary physicians who used to admit patients in ICUs under their own care. The presence of specially trained intensivists in these ICUs has started a "turf" war. In spite of the availability of overwhelming evidence that intensivists-based ICUs can provide better patient care leading to improved outcome, there is hesitancy among hospital administrators and other policy makers towards adopting such a model. Major critical care societies and workgroups have recommended intensivists-based ICU models to care for critically ill patients, but even in developed countries, on-site intensivist coverage is lacking in a great majority of hospitals. Lack of funds and unavailability of skilled intensivists are commonly cited as the main reasons for not implementing intensivist-led ICU care in most of the ICUs. To provide optimal, comprehensive and skilled care to this severely ill patient population, it is imperative that a multi-disciplinary team approach must be adopted with intensivists as in-charge. Even though ICU organization and staffing may be determined by hospital policies and other local factors, all efforts must be made to attain the goal of having round-the-clock onsite intensivist coverage to ensure continuity of specialized care for all critically ill patients.

Benefits of High-Intensity Intensive Care Unit Physician Staffing under the Affordable Care Act

The Affordable Care Act signed into law by President Obama, with its value-based purchasing program, is designed to link payment to quality processes and outcomes. Treatment of critically ill patients represents nearly 1% of the gross domestic product and 25% of a typical hospital budget. Data suggest that high-intensity staffing patterns in the intensive care unit (ICU) are associated with cost savings and improved outcomes. We evaluate the literature investigating the cost-effectiveness and clinical outcomes of high-intensity ICU physician staffing as recommended by The Leapfrog Group (a consortium of companies that purchase health care for their employees) and identify ways to overcome barriers to nationwide implementation of these standards. Hospitals that have implemented the Leapfrog initiative have demonstrated reductions in mortality and length of stay and increased cost savings. High-intensity staffing models appear to be an immediate cost-effective way for hospitals to meet the challenges of health care reform.

The Outcomes of Adult Patients with Haematological Malignancy Requiring Admission to the Intensive Care Unit

A literature review was conducted to ascertain the prognosis of patients with haematological malignancies admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) and to identify any factors that could be shown to influence outcome. Studies that examined outcomes among patients with haematological malignancy admitted to ICU were evaluated. Pooled outcome data relating to ICU, hospital and six-month mortality were compiled. A qualitative assessment of the evidence relating to putative determinants of prognosis was made. Observational studies examining outcomes among over 10,000 haematological malignancy patients admitted to the ICU were identified. Approximately 40% of such patients survived until hospital discharge. The principle determinants of short-term survival would appear to be related to the severity of the acute illness and the consequent physiological derangement or organ system dysfunction. In the longer term, factors relating to the prognosis of the underlying malignancy appear to be important.

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.