title: A model for decision making for intensive care unit admission in source limited hospitals.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Demand for ICU beds is exceeding its supply. Since the sources are limited in some centers, it is necessary to design a model to identify the patients who benefit more from ICU beds.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study aimed to develop a model to prioritize adult patients according to their clinical indications by a three rounded Delphi method study.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, 22 physicians who practiced in a source limited hospital in southern Iran were invited to participate in a three phase Delphi survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At first, the panelists recommended 30 indications. The indications in the first checklist plus those obtained by literature review formed the second checklist which contained 36 items. The items were scored from 0 to 10 by the panelists. According to the scores, the indications were categorized into three priority levels, which were confirmed by the panelists in the third round.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This simple checklist contains the indications for ICU admission categorized into three priority levels. This checklist can be considered as a guide for physicians who practice in hospitals with limited number of ICU beds.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Shiraz Anesthesiology and Critical Care Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Behzad
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Maghsoudi
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Shiraz Anesthesiology and Critical Care Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Hesamodin
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Tabei
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Shiraz Anesthesiology and Critical Care Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Farid
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zand
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Hamidreza
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tabatabaee
authors.affiliation: Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Armin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akbarzadeh
keywords: Delphi; Intensive Care Unit; Prioritizing