An Emergency Department–Based ICU Decreased Hospital ICU Admissions

Raw survival among all ED patients was unchanged, but an adjusted analysis suggested a mortality benefit.

Prolonged emergency department (ED) boarding of critically ill patients has been associated with increased mortality (NEJM JW Emerg Med Aug 2007 and Crit Care Med 2007; 35:1477). An ED-based intensive care unit (ED-ICU) could decrease time to ICU-level care, potentially affecting outcomes. Researchers performed a retrospective before and after study at an academic center in Michigan to determine whether implementation of an ED-ICU affected ED mortality or the rate of admission to hospital-based ICUs.

The 14-bed ED-ICU was staffed by an ED attending physician and house staff, physician assistants and ED nurses with ICU training, and other ancillary staff. The patient-to-nurse ratio was 2:1. All ED patients for about 2.5 years before and after…

Reviewing Author

Benton R. Hunter, MD

Disclosures

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesSociety for Academic Emergency Medicine (Chair, Evidence Based Healthcare Interest Group)

Benton R. Hunter, MD

Disclosures

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesSociety for Academic Emergency Medicine (Chair, Evidence Based Healthcare Interest Group)

An Emergency Department–Based ICU Decreased Hospital ICU Admissions

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Reviewing Author