Five Statistics that Impact the Delivery of Critical Care

The increased need for critical care services, paired with a shortage of professionals specializing in critical care is making a significant impact on how care is being delivered in hospitals and other medical facilities.

Check out this article, "Five Statistics that Impact the Delivery of Critical Care" - http://www.healthedsolutions.com/articles/critical-care-delivery-certification


Rebecca (HES)

1. Increasing patient volume in ICU facilities

In the United States, there are approximately 6,000 ICUs, which provide care for 55,000 patients each day. In 2001 alone, the total number of adult ICU beds was 66,199; the total number of pediatric ICU beds was 20,610.

2. Rise of an aging population

The aging U.S. population, largely due to the baby boomer generation, has led to an increased need for critical care. Between 1991 and 2004, the number of critical care patients over the age of 85 increased from 4.1 percent to 6.9 percent.

3. Shortage of professionals equipped with critical care certification

While there has been an increase in the number of fellows in critical care subspecialty programs, critical care delivery is still not meeting patient demand. In fact, research has suggested that the demand for critical care will create a shortfall of intensivist hours equal to 35 percent of demand by the year 2020.

4. Reduced length of patient stay

Patients recover faster when treated by a specialist with critical care delivery certification; it is projected that a 30 percent reduction of length of stay for ICU patients can be achieved when care is delivered by an intensivist-directed team. According to research, the average length of stay for a patient treated by an intensivist is 6.1 days, compared to 9.3 days when a patient instead receives care from an attending physician.

5. Cost savings due to intensivist-directed teams

While ICU patients occupy only 10 percent of impatient beds, almost 30 percent of acute care hospital costs can be attributed to their care, which amounts to $180 billion each year in the United States. It is estimated that up to $13 million can be saved annually when care is delivered by an intensivist-directed team.

Aging population and increased volume are really big issues. Not having Advanced Directives and an appointed DPOAH further complicate those issues. This is something that nurses have great impact on. Be proactive and help your patients and their family members to understand how these processes affect their care and ultimately how their lives will end.

since it was already recognized that there is a shortage with professionals equipped with critical care certification, how is it being addressed then?

I have seen an increase in the number of critical care certified physicians and an increase in the frequency with which they do bedside rounds but I have not seen an increase in the number of CCRNs. In fact, I have worked in institutions that ceased paying differentials for such certifications. "It's too costly." It is my firm belief that nursing's commitment to excellence and NOT the efforts made by facilities that is responsible for improved care in fact, in the past year, because of "cost saving measures" I feel like I'm continuing to do excellent work but with one hand tied behind my back.

atlnurse477 wrote:since it was already recognized that there is a shortage with professionals equipped with critical care certification, how is it being addressed then?