Closure of an intermediate care unit. Impact on critical care utilization

• Published in: Chest Vol. 104; no. 3; p. 876
• Main Authors: Byrick, R J, Mazer, C D, Caskennette, G M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-09-1993
• Subjects: Female; Health Facility Closure; Hospital Units; Humans; Intensive Care Units - statistics & numerical data; Intermediate Care Facilities; Length of Stay; Male; Middle Aged; Patient Admission; Retrospective Studies; Severity of Illness Index
• ISSN: 0012-3692
• DOI: 10.1378/chest.104.3.876

We studied the effect of closing a six-bed intermediate care area (ICA) on utilization of a multidisciplinary critical care unit (CCU). Data were collected on all admissions to the 7-bed CCU for 9 months prior to ICA closure (n = 217) and compared with 9 months after CCU expansion (7 to 9 beds) and ICA closure (n = 407). Nonemergency CCU admissions increased from 41 to 112 after ICA closure (p < 0.03). Mean APACHE II score within 24 h of admission decreased from 21.9 +/- 7.4 to 18.6 +/- 7.4 (p < 0.0001). The proportion of patients with APACHE II score < 15, increased from 30/217 to 136/407 accounting for an increase from 5.4 percent to 12.7 percent of CCU days (p < 0.0001). Nursing workload at the time of discharge from CCU decreased (p < 0.0001). The ICA closure altered CCU admission and discharge decision-making. "Low-risk" admissions increased and patients remained in the CCU until they required less nursing care. One factor determining utilization of a CCU is the facilities available outside the unit. A CCU management system is especially important when a wide range of illness severity is present.