scholarly journals The impact of intensive care unit physician staffing change at a community hospital

2022 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 205031212110664
Author(s):  
Christopher D Adams ◽  
Luigi Brunetti ◽  
Liza Davidov ◽  
Jose Mujia ◽  
Michael Rodricks

Objectives: A high-intensity staffing model has been defined as either mandatory intensivist consultation or a closed intensive care unit in which intensivists manage all aspects of patient care. In the current climate of limited healthcare resources, transitioning to a closed intensive care unit model may lead to significant improvements in patient care and resource utilization. Methods: This is a single-center, retrospective cohort study of all mechanically ventilated intensive care unit admissions in the pre-intensive care unit closure period of 1 October 2014 to 30 September 2015 as compared with the post-intensive care unit closure period of 1 November 2015 to 31 October 2016. Patient demographics as well as outcome data (duration of mechanical ventilation, length of stay, direct costs, complications, and mortality) were abstracted from the electronic health record. All data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Regression analyses were used to adjust outcomes for potential confounders. Results: A total of 549 mechanically ventilated patients were included in our analysis: 285 patients in the pre-closure cohort and 264 patients in the post-closure cohort. After adjusting for confounders, there was no significant difference in mortality rates between the pre-closure (40.7%) and post-closure (38.6%) groups (adjusted odds ratio = 0.82; 95% confidence interval = 0.56–1.18; p = 0.283). The post-closure cohort was found to have significant reductions in duration of mechanical ventilation (3.71–1.50 days; p < 0.01), intensive care unit length of stay (5.8–2.7 days; p < 0.01), hospital length of stay (10.9–7.3 days; p < 0.01), and direct hospital costs (US $16,197–US $12,731; p = 0.009). Patient complications were also significantly reduced post-intensive care unit closure. Conclusion: Although a closed intensive care unit model in our analysis did not lead to a statistical difference in mortality, it did demonstrate multiple beneficial outcomes including reduced ventilator duration, decreased intensive care unit and hospital length of stay, fewer patient complications, and reduced direct hospital costs.

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 205031212110308
Author(s):  
Santiago Cegarra Garcia ◽  
Michael Toolis ◽  
Max Ubels ◽  
Taha Mollah ◽  
Eldho Paul ◽  
...  

Objectives: To compare the characteristics and outcomes of patients presenting to hospital with alcohol-induced and gallstone-induced acute pancreatitis. Methods: Retrospective study of all patients with alcohol-induced or gallstone-induced pancreatitis during the period 1 June 2012 to 31 May 2016. The primary outcome measure was hospital mortality. Secondary outcome measures included hospital length of stay, requirements for intensive care unit admission, intensive care unit mortality, mechanical ventilation, renal replacement therapy, requirement of inotropes and total parenteral nutrition. Results: A total of 642 consecutive patients (49% alcohol; 51% gallstone) were included. No statistically significant differences were found between alcohol-induced and gallstone-induced acute pancreatitis with respect to hospital mortality, requirement for intensive care unit admission, intensive care unit mortality and requirement for mechanical ventilation, renal replacement therapy, inotropes or total parenteral nutrition. There was significant difference in hospital length of stay (3.07 versus 4.84; p  < 0.0001). On multivariable regression analysis, Bedside Index of Severity in Acute Pancreatitis score (estimate: 0.393; standard error: 0.058; p < 0.0001) and admission haematocrit (estimate: 0.025; standard error: 0.008; p = 0.002) were found to be independently associated with prolonged hospital length of stay. Conclusion: Hospital mortality did not differ between patients with alcohol-induced and gallstone-induced acute pancreatitis. The duration of hospital stay was longer with gallstone-induced pancreatitis. Bedside Index of Severity in Acute Pancreatitis score and admission haematocrit were independently associated with hospital length of stay.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hesham Abowali ◽  
Matteo Paganini ◽  
Garrett A Enten ◽  
Ayman Elbadawi ◽  
Enrico Camporesi

Abstract Abstract Background : The use of dexmedetomidine for sedation post-cardiac surgery is controversial compared to the use of propofol. Methods : A computerized search on Medline, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality databases was performed for up to July 2019. Trials evaluating the efficacy of dexmedetomidine versus propofol in the postoperative sedation of cardiac surgery patients were selected. Primary study outcomes were classified as time-dependent (mechanical ventilation time; time to extubation; length of stay in the intensive care unit and the hospital) and non-time dependent (delirium, bradycardia, and hypotension). Results : Our final analysis included 11 RCTs published between 2003 and 2019 and involved a total of 1184 patients. Time to extubation was significantly reduced in the dexmedetomidine group (Standardized Mean Difference (SMD) = -0.61, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): -1.06 to -0.16, p=0.008), however no difference in mechanical ventilation time was observed (SMD= -0.72, 95% CI: -1.60 to 0.15, N.S.). Moreover, the dexmedetomidine group showed a significant reduction in Intensive Care Unit length of stay (SMD= -0.70, 95% CI: -0.98 to -0.42, p=0.0005) this did not translate into a reduced hospital length of stay (SMD= -1.13, 95% CI: -2.43 to 0.16, N.S). For non-time dependent factors: incidence of delirium was unaffected between groups (OR: 0.68, 95% CI: 0.43 to 1.06, N.S.), while the propofol group of patients had higher rates of bradycardia (OR: 3.39, 95% CI: 1.20 to 9.55, p=0.020) and hypotension (OR: 1.68, 95% CI: 1.09 to 2.58, p=0.017). Conclusion : Despite the ICU time advantages afforded by dexmedetomidine over propofol, the former does not contribute to an overall reduction in hospital length of stay or an overall improvement in postoperative outcomes for heart valve surgery and CABG patients. Time-dependent outcomes confounded by several factors including variability in staff, site-protocols, and complication rates between individual surgical cases. Keywords: dexmedetomidine; propofol; cardiac surgery; postoperative sedation.


2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 161 ◽  
Author(s):  
O’Dene Lewis ◽  
Julius Ngwa ◽  
Angesom Kibreab ◽  
Marc Phillpotts ◽  
Alicia Thomas ◽  
...  

<p class="Pa5"><strong>Purpose: </strong>We sought to determine whether body mass index (BMI) is associated with worse intensive care unit (ICU) outcomes among Black patients.</p><p class="Pa5"><strong>Methods: </strong>Patients admitted to the medical ICU during 2012 were categorized into six BMI groups based on the World Health Organization criteria. ICU mortality, ICU and hospital length of stay (LOS), need for and duration of mechanical ventilation and organ failure rate were assessed.</p><p class="Pa5"><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 605 patients with mean age 58.9 ± 16.0 years were studied. Compared with those with normal BMI, obese patients had significant higher rates of hypertension, diabetes mellitus and obstructive sleep apnea diagnoses (P&lt;.001 for all). A total of 100 (16.5%) patients died during their ICU stay. Obesity was not associated with increased odds of ICU mortality (OR=.58; 95% CI, .16-2.20). Moreover, improved survival was observed for class II obese patients (OR, .031; 95% CI, .001–.863). There were no differences in the need for and duration of mechanical ventilation between the BMI groups. How­ever, ICU and hospital LOS were significant­ly longer in patients with obesity.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Obesity was not associated with increased ICU mortality; however, obesity was associated with increased comorbid illness and with significant longer ICU and hospital length of stay. <em></em></p><p><em>Ethn Dis.</em>2017;27(2):161-168; doi:10.18865/ed.27.2.161</p>


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hesham A. Abowali ◽  
Matteo Paganini ◽  
Garrett Enten ◽  
Ayman Elbadawi ◽  
Enrico Camporesi

Abstract Background The efficacy and safety of dexmedetomidine in sedation for postoperative cardiac surgeries are controversial when compared to propofol. Methods A computerized search on Medline, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality databases was performed through July 2019. Trials evaluating the efficacy of dexmedetomidine versus propofol in the sedation of postoperative cardiac surgery patients were selected. The primary study outcomes were divided into time-dependent (mechanical ventilation time; time to extubation; length of stay in the intensive care unit and the hospital) and non-time dependent (delirium, bradycardia, and hypotension). Results Our final analysis included 11 RCTs published between 2003 and 2019 and involved a total of 1184 patients. Time to extubation was significantly reduced in the dexmedetomidine group (Standardized Mean Difference (SMD) = -0.61, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): -1.06 to -0.16, p=0.008), however no difference in mechanical ventilation time was observed (SMD= -0.72, 95% CI: -1.60 to 0.15, N.S.). Moreover, the dexmedetomidine group showed a significant reduction in Intensive Care Unit length of stay (SMD= -0.70, 95% CI: -0.98 to -0.42, p=0.0005) this did not translate into a reduced hospital length of stay (SMD= -1.13, 95% CI: -2.43 to 0.16, N.S). For non-time dependent factors: incidence of delirium was unaffected between groups (OR: 0.68, 95% CI: 0.43 to 1.06, N.S.), while the propofol group of patients had higher rates of bradycardia (OR: 3.39, 95% CI: 1.20 to 9.55, p=0.020) and hypotension (OR: 1.68, 95% CI: 1.09 to 2.58, p=0.017). Conclusion Despite the ICU time advantages afforded by dexmedetomidine over propofol, the former does not contribute to an overall reduction in hospital length of stay or an overall improvement in postoperative outcomes of heart valve surgery and CABG patients. Additionally, time-dependent outcomes are affected by several confounding factors, and more efforts are needed to analyze factors that could affect sedation in post-cardiac surgery patients and choose unbiased outcomes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Selda Kayaalti ◽  
Ömer Kayaalti

Abstract Background The incidence and prevalence of sepsis have increased in recent years and it is the most common cause of intensive care admission. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of albumin, steroid, and vasopressor agents and other possible factors on the duration of intensive care unit and hospital stay in sepsis patients. Open access data set obtained from Tohoku Sepsis Registry database was used. Four hundred sixty-two patients admitted to intensive care unit with the diagnosis of sepsis were divided into four groups according to their intensive care unit (≤ 5 or > 5 days) and hospital length of stay (≤ 24 or > 24 days). Demographic data, vital signs, laboratory values, mechanical ventilation requirement, and treatment protocols such as albumin, steroid, and vasopressor agent use were used in the evaluation of the groups. Results The use of albumin (odds ratio [OR] = 3.76 [95% confidence interval (CI), 2.16–6.56]; p < 0.001), steroids (OR = 2.85 [95% CI, 1.67–4.86]; p < 0.001), and vasopressor agents (OR = 3.56 [95% CI, 2.42–5.24]; p < 0.001) were associated with an increasing risk of prolonged intensive care unit length of stay. Also, it was found that the use of albumin (OR = 3.43 [95% CI, 2.00–5.89]; p < 0.001), steroids (OR = 2.81 [95% CI, 1.66–4.78]; p < 0.001), and vasopressor agents (OR = 4.47 [95% CI, 3.02–6.62]; p < 0.001) were associated with an increasing risk of prolonged hospital length of stay. In addition, prognostic scoring systems, body temperature, mean arterial pressure, pH, PaO2/FiO2 ratio, and mechanical ventilation requirement in the first 24 h were also found to be associated with length of stay in intensive care unit and hospital. There was a significant relationship between platelet count, creatinine, Na, lactic acid, and time between diagnosis of sepsis and source control and intensive care unit length of stay, and between hematocrit and C-reactive protein and hospital length of stay. Conclusions The use of albumin, steroid, and vasopressor agents has been found to be significantly correlated with both intensive care unit and hospital length of stay. Further studies are needed to determine in what order or at what dosage these agents will be administered in sepsis treatment.


2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 134-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeannie D. Chan ◽  
Timothy H. Dellit ◽  
John B. Lynch

Objectives: We sought to evaluate clinical outcomes of intensive care unit (ICU) patients following a hospital-wide initiative of prolonged piperacillin/tazobactam (PIP/TAZ) infusion. Methods: Retrospective observational study of patients >18 years old who was hospitalized in the ICU receiving PIP/TAZ for >72 hours during the preimplementation (June 1, 2010 to May 31, 2011) and postimplementation (July 7, 2011 to June 30, 2014) periods. Results: There were 124 and 429 patients who met inclusion criteria with average age of 54.3 and 56.9 years, and average duration of PIP/TAZ therapy was 6.1 ± 2.8 days and 5.9 ± 3.4 days in the pre- and postimplementation period, respectively. Intensive care unit and hospital length of stay (LOS) following initiation of PIP/TAZ were 8.0 ± 8.4 days versus 6.4 ± 6.8 days and 26.3 ± 22.8 days versus 20.4 ± 16.1 days among patients in the pre- and postimplementation periods, respectively. Compared to patients who received intermittent PIP/TAZ infusion, the adjusted difference in ICU and hospital LOS was 0.6 ± 0.8 days (95% confidence interval [CI]: −0.9 to 2.1 days) and 5.6 ± 2.1 days (95% CI: 1.4 - 9.7 days) shorter among patients who received prolonged PIP/TAZ infusion. At hospital discharge, 19 (15.3%) intermittent infusion and 74 (17.2%) prolonged infusion recipients had died. In comparison to intermittent infusion recipients, the adjusted odds ratio for mortality was 1.17 (95% CI: 0.65-2.1) with prolonged infusion. Conclusion: Our study demonstrated a reduction in hospital LOS with prolonged PIP/TAZ infusion among critically ill patients. Randomized trials are needed to further validate these findings.


Healthcare ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 67
Author(s):  
Duraid Younan ◽  
Sarah Delozier ◽  
Nathaniel McQuay ◽  
John Adamski ◽  
Aisha Violette ◽  
...  

Background: Ventilator-associated pneumonia is associated with significant morbidity. Although the association of gender with outcomes in trauma patients has been debated for years, recently, certain authors have demonstrated a difference. We sought to compare the outcomes of younger men and women to older men and women, among critically ill trauma patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP). Methods: We reviewed our trauma data base for trauma patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia admitted to our trauma intensive care unit between January 2016 and June 2018. Data collected included demographics, injury mechanism and severity (ISS), admission vital signs and laboratory data and outcome measures including hospital length of stay, ICU stay and survival. Patients were also divided into younger (<50) and older (≥50) to account for hormonal status. Linear regression and binary logistic regression models were performed to compare younger men to older men and younger women to older women, and to examine the association between gender and hospital length of stay (LOS), ICU stay (ICUS), and survival. Results: Forty-five trauma patients admitted to our trauma intensive care unit during the study period (January 2016 to August 2018) had ventilator-associated pneumonia. The average age was 58.9 ± 19.6 years with mean ISS of 18.2 ± 9.8. There were 32 (71.1%) men, 27 (60.0%) White, and 41 (91.1%) had blunt trauma. Mean ICU stay was 14.9 ± 11.4 days and mean total hospital length of stay (LOS) was 21.5 ± 14.6 days. Younger men with VAP had longer hospital LOS 28.6 ± 17.1 days compared to older men 16.7 ± 6.6 days, (p < 0.001) and longer intensive care unit stay 21.6 ± 15.6 days compared to older men 11.9 ± 7.3 days (p = 0.02), there was no significant difference in injury severity (ISS was 22.2 ± 8.4 vs. 17 ± 8, p = 0.09). Conclusions: Among trauma patients with VAP, younger men had longer hospital length of stay and a trend towards longer ICU stay. Further research should focus on the mechanisms behind this difference in outcome using a larger database.


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