Ventilatory care in a selection of Ontario hospitals: bigger is not necessarily better! Critical Care Research Network (CCR-Net).
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether there is variability in the structure and process of ventilatory care in intensive care units (ICUs) of the hospitals of Southwestern Ontario.


METHODS
Self-administered questionnaire-based survey.


METHODS
ICUs of selected community and teaching hospitals of Southwestern Ontario.


METHODS
Head of respiratory therapy service of respective hospitals; in those hospitals without respiratory therapists, the ICU nurse manager.


METHODS
Self-administered questionnaire.


METHODS
The availability of different models of ventilators and respiratory therapist and physician coverage were assessed. In addition, the use of clinical practice guidelines, respiratory therapists, and the nursing role in ventilatory care were determined.


RESULTS
In general, the structure of ventilatory care, including availability of different modes of ventilation, and coverage by respiratory therapists and physicians was more comprehensive in larger hospitals. However, the availability of some modes of ventilation varied more than expected among hospitals of comparable size. Similarly, variability in the process of ventilatory care, defined by the availability of clinical practice guidelines and the roles of respiratory therapists varied both within and among hospitals of different size.


CONCLUSIONS
The structure and process of ventilatory care in this sample of Southwestern Ontario ICUs was found to be variable. Not all this variability could be accounted for by hospital size, suggesting a potential for improvement in overall ventilatory care. Further study is required before any specific recommendations can be considered.
Keenan
S P
SP
Richard Ivey Critical Care Trauma Center, Victoria Hospital London, Ontario, Canada. skeenan42@hotmail.com
Montgomery
J
J
Chen
L M
LM
Esmail
R
R
Inman
K J
KJ
Sibbald
W J
WJ
D003422:Critical Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006295:Health Resources; D006764:Hospitals, Community; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D009864:Ontario; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000592:standards*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D012122:Ventilators, Mechanical / Q000592:standards*; D000078329:Workforce