Articles Tagged With: ICU
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Better Care Coordination Needed for Interhospital Transfers
Interhospital transfers can be challenging and frustrating for nursing staff — and sometimes dangerous and tragic for patients and their families. Health systems should pay more attention to how these transfers are handled and work to improve communication between sending and receiving hospitals.
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Pros and Cons of ‘Proning’ COVID-19 Patients in ICU
Many COVID-19 patients admitted for critical care may be periodically placed on their stomachs, a potentially life-saving course of treatment called “proning.” But proning makes intravenous lines difficult to access, drains patient oral secretions onto line sites, and increases the risk of some healthcare-associated infections.
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Family Members of Critically Ill Patients with SARS-CoV-2 Pneumonia Have a High Burden of Symptoms of PTSD
This multicenter cohort study found a high incidence of post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms among family members of COVID-19 patients at three months after the index intensive care unit admission.
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Using Technology to Alleviate HCW Stress, Strengthen Resiliency
As healthcare worker stress and burnout spiked during the pandemic, organizations searched for ways to alleviate the burden, including finding new uses for technology. To help healthcare workers adjust to these significant sources of stress, health systems can build and enhance resiliency.
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Staffing Shortages Could Increase Liability Risks
Staffing shortages can cause a wide range of problems within a healthcare facility. Most of those issues can lead to greater liability risks. Risk managers are struggling to alleviate those risks even as the staffing challenge gets progressively worse. -
Prosecution for Excessive Painkillers Tough Case to Make
In a highly publicized case, a critical care doctor was acquitted on 14 counts of second-degree murder. The prosecution alleged the defendant had ordered excessively high fentanyl dosages that caused patient deaths. Prosecutors presented solid evidence and a strong circumstantial case, yet the defense still won. In this case, prosecutors had to prove either the doctor knew the dose of painkillers could kill the patient, or the doctor was aware of the risk, and the risk was unreasonable.
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Mortality, Days Alive Outside Institutions Among Older Patients After Tracheostomy
Medicare beneficiaries who underwent tracheostomy and gastrostomy tube placement often remained institutionalized beyond three months, with three-, six-, and 12-month mortality greater than 40%, 50%, and 60%, respectively.
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Conflict Common Between ICU Clinicians
Ethicists often are seen as a neutral party. Their review of a situation can help provide space to reflect on how the conflict arose.
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Mayo Clinic Reduces Propofol Waste to Zero
A propofol disposal initiative at Mayo Clinic reduced the number of full propofol bottles in an ICU waste bin to zero, successfully addressing drug diversion at the facility. Initially, 44.1% of propofol bottles in waste bins were full before the intervention. The effort was replicated in other units where propofol use is common — and diversion is tempting. -
Missed Nursing Care and Declining Patient Safety
While the immediate effect of the COVID-19 omicron variant on the healthcare workforce is the pressing issue, there were serious concerns about staff shortages and the effect of “missed nursing care” on patients well before the pandemic.