title: Nurse practitioner coverage is associated with a decrease in length of stay in a pediatric chronic ventilator dependent unit.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To hypothesize a dedicated critical care nurse practitioner (NP) is associated with a decreased length of stay (LOS) from a pediatric chronic ventilator dependent unit (PCVDU).
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed patients requiring care in the PCVDU from May 2001 through May 2011 comparing the 5 years prior to the 5 years post implementation of the critical care NP in 2005. LOS and room charges were obtained.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average LOS decreased from a median of 55 d [interquartile range (IQR): 9.8-108.3] to a median of 12 (IQR: 4.0-41.0) with the implementation of a dedicated critical care NP (P < 1.0001). Post implementation of a dedicated NP, a savings of 25738049 in room charges was noted over 5 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data demonstrates a critical care NP coverage model in a PCVDU is associated with a significantly reduced LOS demonstrating that the NP is an efficient and likely cost-effective addition to a medically comprehensive service.
authors.affiliation: Courtney M Rowan, Jennifer C Hamilton, Mara E Nitu, Veda L Ackerman, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Critical Care, Indiana University School of Medicine, Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States.
authors.forename: Courtney M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Rowan
authors.affiliation: Courtney M Rowan, Jennifer C Hamilton, Mara E Nitu, Veda L Ackerman, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Critical Care, Indiana University School of Medicine, Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States.
authors.forename: A Ioana
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Cristea
authors.affiliation: Courtney M Rowan, Jennifer C Hamilton, Mara E Nitu, Veda L Ackerman, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Critical Care, Indiana University School of Medicine, Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States.
authors.forename: Jennifer C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.affiliation: Courtney M Rowan, Jennifer C Hamilton, Mara E Nitu, Veda L Ackerman, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Critical Care, Indiana University School of Medicine, Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States.
authors.forename: Nicole M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: Courtney M Rowan, Jennifer C Hamilton, Mara E Nitu, Veda L Ackerman, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Critical Care, Indiana University School of Medicine, Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States.
authors.forename: Mara E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Nitu
authors.affiliation: Courtney M Rowan, Jennifer C Hamilton, Mara E Nitu, Veda L Ackerman, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Critical Care, Indiana University School of Medicine, Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States.
authors.forename: Veda L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Ackerman
keywords: Cost effective health care; Length of stay; Nurse practitioners; Pediatrics; Ventilation