Improving care to critically ill patients may require a stepwise process. The overall goal is to implement an organized system of ICU care. A temporary step in the process of ICU care improvement may involve mandatory critical care consultation. The next step involves working to establish an intensivist-led model to eliminate variability in the provision of ICU care to critically ill patients.
Critically ill patients who are admitted to intensivists fair better than those who are primarily cared for by other doctors. [1] The reasons for this may be varied, however this concept only stands to reason. Critically ill patients are characterized by complex physiologic and hemodynamic perturbations. Critical care physicians are best trained to handle these matters routinely.
Other physicians’ opinions and voices should remain active in their patients’ care during the ICU stay. The critical care physician should seek consultation from generalists and specialty services as needed.
References:
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Pronovost P, Berenholtz S. A Practical Guide to Measuring Performance in the Intensive Care Unit. VHA Research Series 2002; (2):29.
