Heart & lung : the journal of critical care
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Patients with prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay, though few in number, consume as much as 50% of ICU resources. With increasing pressures for cost containment in health care, the availability of ICU beds may be jeopardized. To improve the efficiency of care for patients requiring a surgical intensive care unit (SICU) stay of 3 or more days, a multidisciplinary, highly "protocolized," Progressive Care Area was developed within the existing SICU environment. ⋯ In designing the Progressive Care Area, we drew on a number of published management strategies-including total quality management concepts and our prior experience in establishing ventilator management teams. The Progressive Care Area has resulted in a reduction in both the frequency and variation of resources used. A Progressive Care Area within an existing ICU is a viable alternative for the care of the patients who have prolonged lengths of stay and are less acutely ill, and it significantly improves ICU efficiency.