Mortality of Mechanically Ventilated COVID-19 Patients in Traditional versus Expanded Intensive Care Units in New York.

Rationale: During the first wave of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in New York City, the number of mechanically ventilated COVID-19 patients rapidly surpassed the capacity of traditional intensive care units (ICUs), resulting in health systems utilizing other areas as expanded ICUs to provide critical care. Objectives: To evaluate the mortality of patients admitted to expanded ICUs compared with those admitted to traditional ICUs. Methods: Multicenter, retrospective, cohort study of mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19 admitted to the ICUs at 11 Northwell Health hospitals in the greater New York City area between March 1, 2020 and April 30, 2020. Primary outcome was in-hospital mortality up to 28 days after intubation of COVID-19 patients. Results: Among 1,966 mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19, 1,198 (61%) died within 28 days after intubation, 46 (2%) were transferred to other hospitals outside of the Northwell Health system, 722 (37%) survived in the hospital until 28 days or were discharged after recovery. The risk of mortality of mechanically ventilated patients admitted to expanded ICUs was not different from those admitted to traditional ICUs (hazard ratio [HR], 1.07; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.95-1.20; P = 0.28), while hospital occupancy for critically ill patients itself was associated with increased risk of mortality (HR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.12-1.45; P < 0.001). Conclusions: Although increased hospital occupancy for critically ill patients itself was associated with increased mortality, the risk of 28-day in-hospital mortality of mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19 who were admitted to expanded ICUs was not different from those admitted to traditional ICUs.

Clinical Mortality Review in a Large COVID-19 Cohort.

BACKGROUND: Northwell Health (Northwell), an integrated health system in New York, treated more than 15000 inpatients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at the US epicenter of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic. We describe the demographic characteristics of COVID-19 mortalities, observation of frequent rapid response teams (RRT)/cardiac arrest (CA) calls for non-intensive care unit (ICU) patients, and factors that contributed to RRT/CA calls. METHODS: A team of registered nurses reviewed medical records of inpatients who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) before or on admission and died between March 13 (first Northwell inpatient expiration) and April 30, 2020 at 15 Northwell hospitals. Findings for these patients were abstracted into a database and statistically analyzed. FINDINGS: Of 2634 COVID-19 mortalities, 56.1% had oxygen saturation levels greater than or equal to 90% on presentation and required no respiratory support. At least one RRT/CA was called on 42.2% of patients at a non-ICU level of care. Before the RRT/CA call, the most recent oxygen saturation levels for 76.6% of non-ICU patients were at least 90%. At the time RRT/CA was called, 43.1% had an oxygen saturation less than 80%. INTERPRETATION: This study represents one of the largest cohorts of reviewed mortalities that also captures data in non-structured fields. Approximately 50% of deaths occurred at a non-ICU level of care, despite admission to the appropriate care setting with normal staffing. The data imply a sudden, unexpected deterioration in respiratory status requiring RRT/CA in a large number of non-ICU patients. Patients admitted to a non-ICU level of care suffer rapid clinical deterioration, often with a sudden decrease in oxygen saturation. These patients could benefit from additional monitoring (eg, continuous central oxygenation saturation), although this approach warrants further study.

Evacuate or shelter in place: A view from the water's edge.

Hospitals are faced with the difficult decision as whether to evacuate their patients or shelter in place when a strong hurricane is predicted to affect the facility. This decision must balance for patients the risk of transport with the risk of staying. This article discusses the experience of a hospital faced with this problem in two consecutive years. The approach taken differed and the evaluation of the implications are discussed.

Methods for reducing sepsis mortality in emergency departments and inpatient units.

BACKGROUND: As part of a zero-tolerance approach to preventable deaths, North Shore-LIJ Health System (North Shore-LIJ) leadership prioritized a major patient safety initiative to reduce sepsis mortality in 2009 across 10 acute care hospitals (an 11th joined later). At baseline (2008), approximately 3,500 patients were discharged with a diagnosis of sepsis, which ranked as the top All Patient Refined Diagnosis-Related Group by number of deaths (N = 883). Initially, the focus was sepsis recognition and treatment in the emergency departments (EDs). METHODS: North Shore-LIJ, the 14th largest health care system in the United States, cares for individuals at every stage of life at 19 acute care and specialty hospitals and more than 400 outpatient physician practice sites throughout New York City and the greater New York metropolitan area. The health system launched a strategic partnership with the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) in August 2011 to accelerate the pace of sepsis improvement. Throughout the course of the initiative, North Shore-LIJ collaborated with many local, state, national, and international organizations to test innovative ideas, share evidence-based best practices, and, more recently, to raise public awareness. RESULTS: North Shore-LIJ reduced overall sepsis mortality by approximately 50% in a six-year period (2008-2013; sustained through 2014) and increased compliance with sepsis resuscitation bundle elements in the EDs and inpatient units in the 11 acute care hospitals. CONCLUSION: Improvements were achieved by engaging leadership; fostering interprofessional collaboration, collaborating with other leading health care organizations; and developing meaningful, real-time metrics for all levels of staff.

Decreasing mortality for patients undergoing hip fracture repair surgery.

BACKGROUND: Staten Island University Hospital (Staten Island, New York) undertook an initiative to reduce mortality in a high-risk population on the basis of findings from a root cause analysis (RCA). METHODS: A 78-year-old woman admitted following a fall was diagnosed with a femur fracture. The medical history was significant for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypothyroidism, and laryngeal cancer. A medical consultant classified the patient as grade II (American Society of Anaesthesiologists-Physical Status [ASA] scale), no contra-indication for operating room (OR). An anesthesiologist evaluated the patient as an ASA grade III/IV. The patient went to the OR and died after anesthesia induction. The RCA revealed inadequate communication between providers and preoperative assessment and no framework to privilege providers for high risk preoperative evaluations. Proposed corrective actions included use of a preoperative assessment tool. RESULTS: During the baseline year, 2000, the preimplementation mortality rate for 185 patients undergoing hip fracture repair surgery was 4.9%. For the 644 postimplementation patients, the mortality rate decreased to 2.7% for both 2001 and 2002 and to 1% for 2003. Comparison of the 2000 baseline and 2003 mortalities indicated a statistically significant mortality reduction of 79% (p = .0245). DISCUSSION: Mortality rates can be reduced by systematic application of comprehensive preoperative assessment when implemented by specially trained and privileged staff.