scholarly journals Lessons for intensive care units in COVID-19 pandemic-moving towards sustainability

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Prashant Nasa ◽  
Ruchi Nasa ◽  
Aanchal Singh
Keyword(s):  
Critical Care ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Intensive Care Units ◽  
Standard Of Care ◽  
Infrastructure Development ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Second Wave ◽  
And Training

The Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has inundated critical care services globally. The intensive care units (ICUs) and critical care providers have been forefront of this pandemic, evolving continuously from experiences and emerging evidence. In this review, we discuss the key lessons from the ongoing wave of COVID-19 pandemic and preparations for a future surge or second wave. The model of sustainable critical care services should be based on 1) infrastructure development, 2) preparation and training of manpower, 3) implementing standard of care and infection control, 4) sustained supply-chain and finally, and 5) surge planning. 

scholarly journals A California Hospital’s Response to COVID-19: From a Ripple to a Tsunami Warning

2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
pp. e1-e16
Author(s):  
Mary Kay Bader ◽  
Annabelle Braun ◽  
Cherie Fox ◽  
Lauren Dwinell ◽  
Jennifer Cord ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Critical Care ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Intensive Care Units ◽  
Task Force ◽  
The United States ◽  
Tsunami Warning ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Evidence Review ◽  
Excellent Care

Background The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) rippled across the world from Wuhan, China, to the shores of the United States within a few months. Hospitals and intensive care units were suddenly faced with a “tsunami” warning requiring instantaneous implementation and escalation of disaster plans. Evidence Review An evidence-based question was developed and an extensive review of the literature was completed, resulting in a structured plan for the intensive care units to manage a surge of patients critically ill with COVID-19 in March 2020. Twenty-five sources of evidence focusing on pandemic intensive care unit and COVID-19 management laid the foundation for the team to navigate the crisis. Implementation The Critical Care Services task force adopted recommendations from the CHEST consensus statement on surge capacity principles and other sources, which served as the framework for the organized response. The 4 S’s became the focus: space, staff, supplies, and systems. Development of algorithms, workflows, and new processes related to treating patients, staffing shortages, and limited supplies. New intensive care unit staffing solutions were adopted. Evaluation Using a framework based on the literature reviewed, the Critical Care Services task force controlled the surge of patients with COVID-19 in March through May 2020. Patients received excellent care, and the mortality rate was 0.008%. The intensive care unit team had the needed respiratory and general supplies but had to continually adapt to shortages of personal protective equipment, cleaning products, and some medications. Sustainability The intensive care unit pandemic response plan has been established and the team is prepared for the next wave of COVID-19.

Barriers to Addressing the Spiritual and Religious Needs of Patients and Families in the Intensive Care Unit: A Qualitative Study of Critical Care Physicians

2020 ◽  
pp. 104990912097090
Author(s):  
Christian K. Alch ◽  
Christina L. Wright ◽  
Kristin M. Collier ◽  
Philip J. Choi
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Critical Care ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Spiritual Care ◽  
Spiritual Needs ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Qualitative Research Design ◽  
Data Saturation

Objectives: Though critical care physicians feel responsible to address spiritual and religious needs with patients and families, and feel comfortable in doing so, they rarely address these needs in practice. We seek to explore this discrepancy through a qualitative interview process among physicians in the intensive care unit (ICU). Methods: A qualitative research design was constructed using semi-structured interviews among 11 volunteer critical care physicians at a single institution in the Midwest. The physicians discussed barriers to addressing spiritual and religious needs in the ICU. A code book of themes was created and developed through a regular and iterative process involving 4 investigators. Data saturation was reached as no new themes emerged. Results: Physicians reported feeling uncomfortable in addressing the spiritual needs of patients with different religious views. Physicians reported time limitations, and prioritized biomedical needs over spiritual needs. Many physicians delegate these conversations to more experienced spiritual care providers. Physicians cited uncertainty into how to access spiritual care services when they were desired. Additionally, physicians reported a lack of reminders to meet these needs, mentioning frequently the ICU bundle as one example. Conclusions: Barriers were identified among critical care physicians as to why spiritual and religious needs are rarely addressed. This may help inform institutions on how to better meet these needs in practice.

scholarly journals Equity of access to critical care services in Scotland: A Bayesian spatial analysis

2020 ◽  
pp. 175114372091446
Author(s):  
Philip Emerson ◽  
David R Green ◽  
Steve Stott ◽  
Graeme Maclennan ◽  
Marion K Campbell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Critical Care ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Spatial Analysis ◽  
Intensive Care Units ◽  
Geographical Variation ◽  
Admission Rates ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Co Morbidity ◽  
Bayesian Spatial Analysis

Background There is increasing evidence that access to critical care services is not equitable. We aimed to investigate whether location of residence in Scotland impacts on the risk of admission to an Intensive Care Unit and on outcomes. Methods This was a population-based Bayesian spatial analysis of adult patients admitted to Intensive Care Units in Scotland between January 2011 and December 2015. We used a Besag–York–Mollié model that allows us to make direct probabilistic comparisons between areas regarding risk of admission to Intensive Care Units and on outcomes. Results A total of 17,596 patients were included. The five-year age- and sex-standardised admission rate was 352 per 100,000 residents. There was a cluster of Council Areas in the North-East of the country which had lower adjusted admission rates than the Scottish average. Midlothian, in South East Scotland had higher spatially adjusted admission rates than the Scottish average. There was no evidence of geographical variation in mortality. Conclusion Access to critical care services in Scotland varies with location of residence. Possible reasons include differential co-morbidity burden, service provision and access to critical care services. In contrast, the probability of surviving an Intensive Care Unit admission, if admitted, does not show geographical variation.

scholarly journals Paediatric admissions to a district general hospital adult intensive care unit over a six year period: A single centre retrospective case series, with review of practitioner confidence and competence in paediatric critical care

2021 ◽  
pp. 175114372110121
Author(s):  
Stephen A Spencer ◽  
Joanna S Gumley ◽  
Marcin Pachucki
Keyword(s):  
Critical Care ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Intensive Care Units ◽  
Case Series ◽  
Critically Ill Children ◽  
Single Centre ◽  
Retrospective Case ◽  
Retrospective Case Series ◽  
Paediatric Critical Care ◽  
Doctors And Nurses

Background Critically ill children presenting to district general hospitals (DGH) are admitted to adult intensive care units (AICUs) for stabilisation prior to transfer to paediatric intensive care units (PICUs). Current training in PICU for adult intensive care physicians is only three months. This single centre retrospective case series examines the case mix of children presenting to a DGH AICU and a multidisciplinary survey assesses confidence and previous experience, highlighting continued training needs for DGH AICU staff. Methods all paediatric admissions to AICU and paediatric retrievals were reviewed over a 6-year period (2014-2019). Cases were identified from the Electronic Patient Record (EPR) and from data provided by the regional paediatric retrieval service. A questionnaire survey was sent to AICU doctors and nurses to assess confidence and competence in paediatric critical care. Results Between 2014-2019, 284 children were managed by AICU. In total 35% of cases were <1 y, 48% of cases were <2 y and 64% of cases were <5 y, and 166/284 (58%) children were retrieved. Retrieval reduced with increasing age (OR 0.49 [0.40-0.60], p < 0.0001). The survey had an 82% response rate, and highlighted that only 13% of AICU nurses and 50% of doctors had received prior PICU training. Conclusion At least one critically unwell child presents to the AICU each week. Assessment, stabilisation and management of critically unwell children are vital skills for DGH AICU staff, but confidence and competence are lacking. Formalised strategies are required to develop and maintain paediatric competencies for AICU doctors and nurses.

scholarly journals Geographical access to critical care services in Scotland

2017 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip Emerson ◽  
Naomi Dodds ◽  
David R Green ◽  
Jan O Jansen
Keyword(s):  
Critical Care ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Care Facility ◽  
Population Data ◽  
Small Towns ◽  
Health Board ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Geographical Access ◽  
Scottish Population

Background Critical illness requires specialist and timely management. The aim of this study was to create a geographic accessibility profile of the Scottish population to emergency departments and intensive care units. Methods This was a descriptive, geographical analysis of population access to ‘intermediate’ and ‘definitive’ critical care services in Scotland. Access was defined by the number of people able to reach services within 45 to 60 min, by road and by helicopter. Access was analysed by health board, rurality and as a country using freely available geographically referenced population data. Results Ninety-six percent of the population reside within a 45-min drive of the nearest intermediate critical care facility, and 94% of the population live within a 45-min ambulance drive time to the nearest intensive care unit. By helicopter, these figures were 95% and 91%, respectively. Some health boards had no access to definitive critical care services within 45 min via helicopter or road. Very remote small towns and very remote rural areas had poorer access than less remote and rural regions.

scholarly journals Experiences of Patients With COVID-19 Admitted to the Intensive Care Units: A Qualitative Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 237437352110073
Author(s):  
Reza Norouzadeh ◽  
Mohammad Abbasinia ◽  
Zahra Tayebi ◽  
Ehsan Sharifipour ◽  
Alireza Koohpaei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care ◽  
Intensive Care Units ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Spiritual Support ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Icu Patients ◽  
Life Challenges ◽  
Care Models ◽  
The Face

This study aimed to describe the experiences of patients with COVID-19 admitted to the intensive care units (ICU). The data were analyzed by content analysis on 16 ICU patients with COVID-19. Data were collected by semi-structured interviews. Three categories were identified: (a) captured by a challenging incident with subcategories: perceived sudden and challenging death, fear of carelessness in overcrowding, worry about the family, and frustration with stigmatizing; (b) the flourishing of life with subcategories: spiritual-awakening, resilience in the face of life challenges, promoting health behaviors, and striving for recovery; and (c) honoring the blessings with subcategories: understanding the importance of nurses, realizing the value of family, and realizing the value of altruism. COVID-19 survivors experienced both positive and negative experiences. The results of this study could help health care providers identify the needs of ICU patients with COVID-19, including psychological, social, and spiritual support and design care models.

scholarly journals Does "Flattening the Curve" Affect Critical Care Services Delivery for COVID-19? A Global Health Perspective

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ramiro E. Gilardino
Keyword(s):  
Critical Care ◽  
Health Systems ◽  
Essential Element ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Services Delivery ◽  
Medical Supplies ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Care Facilities

During this coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic, nations are taking bold measures to mitigate the spread of Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections in order to avoid the overwhelming its critical care facilities. While these "flattening the curve" initiatives are showing signs of impeding the potential surge in COVID-19 cases, it is not known whether these measures alleviate the burden placed on intensive care units. Much has been made of the desperate need for critical care beds and medical supplies, especially personal protective equipment (PPE). But while these initiatives may provide health systems time to bolster their critical care infrastructure, they do little to protect the most essential element – the critical care providers. This article examines bolder initiatives that may be needed to both protect crucial health systems and the essential yet vulnerable providers during this global pandemic.

scholarly journals Family Behaviors as Unchanging Obstacles in End-of-Life Care: 16-Year Comparative Data

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. e81-e91
Author(s):  
Renea L. Beckstrand ◽  
Jasmine B. Jenkins ◽  
Karlen E. Luthy ◽  
Janelle L. B. Macintosh
Keyword(s):  
Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Critical Care ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
End Of Life ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
End Of Life Care ◽  
Critical Care Nurses ◽  
Life Care ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Over Time

Background Critical care nurses routinely care for dying patients. Research on obstacles in providing end-of-life care has been conducted for more than 20 years, but change in such obstacles over time has not been examined. Objective To determine whether the magnitude scores of obstacles and helpful behaviors regarding end-of-life care have changed over time. Methods In this cross-sectional survey study, questionnaires were sent to 2000 randomly selected members of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. Obstacle and helpful behavior items were analyzed using mean magnitude scores. Current data were compared with data gathered in 1999. Results Of the 2000 questionnaires mailed, 509 usable responses were received. Six obstacle magnitude scores increased significantly over time, of which 4 were related to family issues (not accepting the poor prognosis, intrafamily fighting, overriding the patient’s end-of-life wishes, and not understanding the meaning of the term lifesaving measures). Two were related to nurse issues. Seven obstacles decreased in magnitude, including poor design of units, overly restrictive visiting hours, and physicians avoiding conversations with families. Four helpful behavior magnitude scores increased significantly over time, including physician agreement on patient care and family access to the patient. Three helpful behavior items decreased in magnitude, including intensive care unit design. Conclusions The same end-of-life care obstacles that were reported in 1999 are still present. Obstacles related to family behaviors increased significantly, whereas obstacles related to intensive care unit environment or physician behaviors decreased significantly. These results indicate a need for better end-of-life education for families and health care providers.

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