Critical Care Delivery

Despite a system that is more likely to institutionalize the concentration of ICU resources, the geographically dispersed Japanese sample consisted of general medical/surgical ICUs. This is in contrast to the United States, where there was a greater likelihood of having ICUs specialized for the care of either medical or surgical patients. Shortell et al, reported a trend toward improved outcomes in those ICUs focusing on a more limited spectrum of illnesses. In addition, data suggest that improved risk-adjusted outcomes for several common medical diagnoses at teaching hospitals and decreased LOS for ICU patients managed by dedicated critical care teams should focus the debate regarding the wisdom of concentrating and specializing ICU care. These data can sharpen policy debates regarding the optimal spectrum of conditions cared for within an ICU. canadian neighborhood pharmacy