Articles: intensive-care-units.
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Critical care medicine · May 1997
Assessing the impact of patient characteristics and process performance on rural intensive care unit hospital mortality rates.
To examine the relationship between patient characteristics, processes of care, and risk of hospital mortality in rural intensive care units (ICU). ⋯ Most of the variation in mortality was explained by differences in patient physiologic and demographic characteristics at ICU admission. After adjusting for patient characteristics, better performance in some processes of care would have significant impact on reducing risk of mortality.
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Nursing in critical care · May 1997
ReviewThe needs of parents with a child on an adult intensive therapy unit.
This review examines, by means of a literature search, the needs of parents who have a critically ill child on adult intensive therapy units. These needs are compared with the needs of relatives of adult patients in ITUs. Whether nurses trained in adult nursing have the necessary skills, knowledge and attitudes to care for the parents is also discussed. Recommendations for ensuring care of the parent point to addressing skills gaps in adult-trained nurses and to reappraising visiting policies.
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Previous research has emphasized the importance of visitation in critical care units and its beneficial effects on patients and their families. However, nurses' attitudes and beliefs about visitation did not correlate with those of patients and their families, nor did actual visitation practices correlate with written policy. ⋯ Data indicate that most nurses do not restrict visitation, regardless of whether restrictive policies are in place. Most nurses base their visitation decisions on the needs of the patient and the nurse. Needs of the family were ranked as less important in decision making about family visitation.
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Mayo Clinic proceedings · May 1997
Effects of a medical intensivist on patient care in a community teaching hospital.
To determine the effect of adding a trained intensivist on patient care and educational outcomes in a community teaching hospital. ⋯ Addition of a medical intensivist was temporally associated with improved clinical and educational outcomes in our community teaching hospital.
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Critical care medicine · May 1997
Multicenter Study Comparative StudyEvaluating laboratory usage in the intensive care unit: patient and institutional characteristics that influence frequency of blood sampling.
To develop a predictive equation to estimate the frequency of blood drawing for intensive care unit (ICU) laboratory tests and to evaluate variations in ICU blood sampling practices after adjusting for patient and institutional factors. ⋯ The ability to adjust for patient and institutional variables and to predict the number of blood samples drawn for laboratory tests can allow ICUs to compare their practices with those of other units. When integrated into a continuous quality improvement process, this information can be used to identify and focus on opportunities for improving blood conservation and reducing excessive diagnostic testing.