Background and Objectives. High-intensity ICU staffing model is associated with quality and outcome improvements. Restrictive red blood cell (RBC) transfusion strategies have been shown to have equivalent mortality to a more liberal strategy in the ICU. We examined the effect of high-intensity staffing on pretransfusion hemoglobin levels, RBC transfusion rates and length of ICU stay. Materials and Methods. The study was a retrospective chart review (n = 196) of all patients admitted to the adult medical/surgical ICU for more than 24 hours one year prior to and after institution of the high-intensity staffing model. Results. Matched for demographics and diagnosis, RBC transfusion rates pre- versus postinstitution of the high-intensity staffing model was 42% versus 27%, respectively, and pretransfusion hemoglobin levels were lower (8.94 to 7.39 g/dL). Length of stay was 4.1 days pre–high-intensity staffing and 4.0 days post–high-intensity staffing. Conclusions. High-intensity ICU staffing resulted in fewer RBC transfusions and lower transfusion thresholds. This restrictive RBC transfusion strategy had no adverse effects on patient ICU length of stay.
Clinical impact of changing to an automated blood-culture system at a small community hospital