title: From Coronary Care Units to Cardiac Intensive Care Units: Recommendations for Organizational, Staffing, and Educational Transformation.
abstract: Medical care in Canadian cardiac units has changed considerably over the past 3 decades in response to an increasingly complex and diverse patient population admitted with acute cardiac pathology. To maintain the highest level of care for these patients, there is a pressing need to evolve traditional coronary care units into contemporary cardiac intensive care units. In this article we aim to highlight the current variations in Canadian units, develop approaches to overcome logistical and infrastructural obstacles, and propose staffing and training recommendations that would allow for the establishment of contemporary cardiac intensive care units.
authors.affiliation: Ottawa Heart Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: mlemay@ottawaheart.ca.
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Le May
authors.affiliation: Mazankowski Heart Institute, University of Alberta, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Sean
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: van Diepen
authors.affiliation: Montreal Heart Institute, University of Montreal, Montreal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liszkowski
authors.affiliation: Libin Cardiovascular Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schnell
authors.affiliation: Montreal Heart Institute, University of Montreal, Montreal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Jean-François
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Tanguay
authors.affiliation: Duke Clinical Research Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
authors.forename: Christopher B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Granger
authors.affiliation: Hamilton General Hospital, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ainsworth
authors.affiliation: Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal, University of Montreal, Montreal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Jean G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Diodati
authors.affiliation: St Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fam
authors.affiliation: McGill University Health Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Haichin
authors.affiliation: St Boniface General Hospital, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
authors.forename: Davinder
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jassal
authors.affiliation: University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Overgaard
authors.affiliation: Mazankowski Heart Institute, University of Alberta, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Wayne
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tymchak
authors.affiliation: Royal Alexandra Hospital, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tyrrell
authors.affiliation: Ottawa Heart Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Osborne
authors.affiliation: Vancouver General Hospital, University of British Columbia, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Graham
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D002309:Cardiology / Q000592:standards; D002568:Certification; D003325:Coronary Care Units / Q000145:classification / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003422:Critical Care / Q000592:standards; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D005180:Faculty, Medical / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000145:classification / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling; D012041:Regional Medical Programs / Q000458:organization & administration; D013038:Specialization