The impact of a multidisciplinary approach on caring for ventilator-dependent patients.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the clinical and financial outcomes of a highly structured multidisciplinary care model for patients in an intensive care unit (ICU) who require prolonged mechanical ventilation. The structured model outcomes (protocol group) are compared with the preprotocol outcomes.


METHODS
Descriptive study with financial analysis.


METHODS
A twelve-bed medical-surgical ICU in a non-teaching tertiary referral center in Ogden, Utah.


METHODS
During a 54 month period, 469 consecutive intensive care patients requiring mechanical ventilation for longer than 72 hours who did not meet exclusion criteria were studied.


METHODS
A multidisciplinary team was formed to coordinate the care of ventilator-dependent patients. Care was integrated by daily collaborative bedside rounds, monthly meetings, and implementation of numerous guidelines and protocols. Patients were followed from the time of ICU admission until the day of hospital discharge.


METHODS
Patients were assigned APACHE II scores on admission to the ICU, and were divided into eight diagnostic categories. ICU length of stay, hospital length of stay, costs, charges, reimbursement, and in-hospital mortality were measured.


RESULTS
Mortality in the preprotocol and protocol group, after adjustment for APACHE II scores, remained statistically unchanged (21-23%). After we implemented the new care model, we demonstrated significant decreases in the mean survivor's ICU length of stay (19.8 days to 14.7 days, P= 0.001), hospital length of stay (34.6 days to 25.9 days, P=0.001), charges (US$102500 to US$78500, P=0.001), and costs (US$71900 to US$58000, P=0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Implementation of a structured multidisciplinary care model to care for a heterogeneous population of ventilator-dependent ICU patients was associated with significant reductions in ICU and hospital lengths of stay, charges, and costs. Mortality rates were unaffected.
Critical Care Department, McKay-Dee Hospital Center, Ogden, UT 84403, USA.
M P
MP
Young
V J
VJ
Gooder
M H
MH
Oltermann
C B
CB
Bohman
T K
TK
French
B C
BC
James
D018806:APACHE; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003422:Critical Care / Q000145:classification / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007902:Length of Stay; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012121:Respiration, Artificial / Q000191:economics* / Q000401:mortality; D014589:Utah