The feasibility and acceptability of a physician-led ICU follow-up service: A prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Increased recognition of post-intensive care syndrome has led to widespread development of intensive care follow-up services internationally. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the feasibility and acceptability of an intensive care unit (ICU) follow-up clinic in Australia for patients and their caregivers and to describe satisfaction with this service. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study in a mixed tertiary ICU in Australia. Eligible patients were adults admitted to the ICU for 7 days or more and/or ventilated for 48 h or more, as well as their primary caregiver. Patients and their primary caregivers were invited to attend a follow-up clinic 4-8 weeks after hospital discharge. The clinic appointment was attended by an ICU physician and nurse, with multidisciplinary support. Feasibility and acceptability were defined as the proportion of clinic attendance and frequency of interventions initiated at the clinic. Satisfaction was measured by a 5-point satisfaction survey (very dissatisfied to very satisfied). The burden of ongoing disease was reported via multiple validated instruments. RESULTS: From April 2020-July 2021, 386 patients met the inclusion criteria. Only 146 patients were approached for consent due to site staffing limitations. Eighty-three patients and 32 caregivers consented to attend the clinic. Seventy percent (54/77) of patients attended scheduled appointments and 50% (16/32) of caregivers. For patients, 23 medical referrals were made, 8 patients had medication changes, and 10 patients were offered social work support. Satisfaction surveys were completed by 65% (35/54) of attending patients; 97% (34) patients reported either being 'very satisfied' or 'satisfied' with the service. All responding caregivers (10) were either 'very satisfied' or 'satisfied' with the clinic. CONCLUSION: There were a large number of patients meeting the inclusion criteria to the ICU follow-up clinic, and clinic attendance was moderate for patients but lower for caregivers. Reported satisfaction with the service was high for both patients and their caregiver.

Factors Influencing Engagement with in-Person Intensive Care Unit Recovery Clinic Services.

Background: Intensive Care Unit recovery clinics (ICU-RC), are multidisciplinary outpatient clinics designed to identify and treat post-intensive care syndrome impairments unique to each survivor of critical illness. Engagement is limited, thus we aimed to describe patient- and hospitalization-related sociodemographic factors associated with scheduling and attending in-person ICU-RC visits. Design: Consecutive case series of prospectively collected ICU-RC referral data. Setting: Data was collected over a 9-year period (2012-2020) for patients referred to an ICU-RC from ICUs at an academic medical center in the southeast United States. Participants: 251 adults admitted to a medical, surgical, burn, or trauma ICU referred to the ICU-RC and eligible to be scheduled for a visit. Main Outcome and Measures: The main study outcome was scheduling and completing an ICU-RC visit. Independent variables included patient demographics, ICU visit characteristics (eg, diagnosis, ventilator days), severity of illness, discharge disposition, ICU-RC referral criteria (eg, shock, delirium), and clinic scheduling administrative data (eg, referral date, clinic visit date). Results: Of 251 ICU-RC referrals eligible for a visit, 128 were scheduled, and 91 completed a visit. In univariate models older age, unspecified shock, and distance from the clinic location were associated with decreased in-person ICU-RC engagement. In a multivariable logistic regression using the same predictors and interactions, older age, unspecified shock, and home-to-clinic distance remained as factors decreasing the likelihood of ICU-RC engagement. There was a decreasing likelihood of scheduling and attending an ICU-RC visit for every additional mile of distance the patient lived from the ICU-RC. Male sex was a strong predictor of completing an ICU-RC visit. Conclusions: Older ICU survivors and those who live farther from the clinic site are less likely to engage in an in-person ICU-RC. Innovation and telemedicine strategies are needed to improve access to ICU recovery care for these populations.

Piloting an ICU follow-up clinic to improve health-related quality of life in ICU survivors after a prolonged intensive care stay (PINA): feasibility of a pragmatic randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: ICU survivors often suffer from prolonged physical and mental impairments resulting in the so called "Post-Intensive Care Syndrome" (PICS). The aftercare of former ICU patients affected by PICS in particular has not been addressed sufficiently in Germany so far. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of a pragmatic randomised trial (RCT) comparing an intensive care unit (ICU) follow-up clinic intervention to usual care. METHODS: This pilot study in a German university hospital evaluated the feasibility of a pragmatic RCT. Patients were assigned in a 1:1 ratio to an ICU follow-up clinic intervention or to usual care. The concept of this follow-up clinic was previously developed in a participatory process with patients, next of kin, health care professionals and researchers. We performed a process evaluation and determined acceptability, fidelity, completeness of measurement instruments and practicality as feasibility outcomes. The RCT's primary outcome (health-related quality of life) was assessed six months after ICU discharge by means of the physical component scale of the Short-Form-12 self-report questionnaire. RESULTS: The pilot study was conducted from June 2020 to May 2021 with 21 and 20 participants in the intervention and control group. Principal findings related to feasibility were 85% consent rate (N = 48), 62% fidelity rate, 34% attrition rate (N = 41) and 77% completeness of outcome measurements. The primary effectiveness outcome (health-related quality of life) could be measured in 93% of participants who completed the study (N = 27). The majority of participants (85%) needed assistance with follow-up questionnaires (practicality). Median length of ICU stay was 13 days and 85% (N = 41) received mechanical ventilation, median Sequential Organ Failure Assessment Score was nine. Six-month follow-up assessment was planned for all study participants and performed for 66% (N = 41) of the participants after 197 days (median). CONCLUSION: The participatory developed intervention of an ICU follow-up clinic and the pragmatic pilot RCT both seem to be feasible. We recommend to start a pragmatic RCT on the effectiveness of the ICU follow-up clinic. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov US NLM, NCT04186468, Submission: 02/12/2019, Registration: 04/12/2019, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04186468.

Development and evaluation of a holistic surgical head and neck cancer post-treatment follow-up clinic using touchscreen technology-Feasibility study.

The efficacy of traditional follow-up care is being challenged, as cancer survivors' supportive and psychological needs are often neither identified, nor addressed. This study's aim was to develop a holistic surgical follow-up clinic for oral and oropharyngeal cancer patients were participants completed a disease-specific health-related quality of life tool (UWQOLv4) and item prompt list (Patient Concern Inventory) on a touchscreen computer. Information generated was used to focus the consultation on patient's identified needs and concerns. By means of a prospective non-randomised, pre-test post-test design, this follow-up clinic was evaluated using the patient enablement instrument (PEI) and patient content checklist (PCC). Feasibility was explored from the patient perspective (satisfaction survey) and clinician perspective (qualitative interview). Forty-four consecutive patients were recruited. Findings demonstrating five of the eight topics (overall QOL, emotions, head and neck symptoms, side-effects of treatment, chronic non-specific) on PCC were discussed more frequently, but changes were not statistically significant. The PEI highlighted a trend towards perceived improvement in four of the six items. Using touchscreen computers to aid communication during routine follow-up was reported as both feasible and beneficial by patients and clinicians. Providing a patient-focused follow-up consultation can facilitate the identification of unmet needs, permitting timely and appropriate intervention being initiated.

Incidence and risk factors of peripheral nerve injuries 3 months after ICU discharge: a retrospective study comparing COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 critically ill survivors.

BACKGROUND: Peripheral nerve injuries (PNI) have been associated with prone positioning (PP) in mechanically ventilated (MV) patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. The aims of this retrospective study were to describe PNI prevalence 3 months (M3) after intensive care unit (ICU) discharge, whether patients survived COVID-19 or another critical illness, and to search for risk factors of PNI. RESULTS: A total of 55 COVID (62 [54-69] years) and 22 non-COVID (61.5 [48-71.5] years) patients were followed at M3, after an ICU stay of respectively 15 [9-26.5] and 13.5 [10-19.8] days. PNI symptoms were reported by 23/55 (42.6%) COVID-19 and 8/22 (36%) non-COVID-19 patients (p = 0.798). As the incidence of PNI was similar in both groups, the entire population was used to determine risk factors. The MV duration predicted PNI occurrence (OR (CI95%) = 1.05 (1.01-1.10), p = 0.028), but not the ICU length of stay, glucocorticoids, or inflammation biomarkers. CONCLUSION: In the present cohort, PNI symptoms were reported in at least one-third of the ICU survivors, in similar proportion whether patients suffered from severe COVID-19 or not.

Previous missed visits and independent risk of loss to follow-up in the high-risk neonatal follow-up clinic.

BACKGROUND: Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) patients are at high risk for developmental delays. As a result, many are seen in neonatal follow-up (NFU) clinics. Disparities in NFU follow-up rates by social determinants of health exist. AIMS: Determine how the number of missed visits (composed of patient-canceled visits and no-show visits) relates to risk of loss to follow-up in the NFU clinic. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study at a regional specialty center in the United States. SUBJECTS: 262 patients born between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2017, who were referred to the NFU clinic. OUTCOME MEASURES: Logistic binomial regression was used to model risk ratio of loss to follow-up over two years, defined as not attending a recommended follow-up visit and not informing the clinic of a reason for discontinued care. RESULTS: Of 262 infants, 220 patients (84 %) were seen for at least one visit and 143 (65 %) completed follow-up. Younger maternal age, maternal smoking during pregnancy, maternal drug use during pregnancy, and public insurance were all associated with missing more visits. For each additional missed visit, the risk of loss to follow-up was 1.73 times higher unadjusted (95 % CI: 1.33, 2.26) and 1.81 times higher (95 % CI: 1.36, 2.40) after adjusting for confounders. The risk ratio of loss to follow-up for no-show visits was three times higher than that for patient-canceled visits. CONCLUSIONS: Each missed visit was independently associated with higher risk of loss to follow-up from NFU clinic, even after adjusting for other risk factors.

Counselling offered to and needed by Finnish adult intensive care unit patients based on patients' records and memories.

OBJECTIVES: Objectives of this study were to characterize the counselling (broadly defined) that Finnish adult intensive care unit patients received and needed during intensive care according to patients' records and memories. DESIGN SETTING: The study was based on retrospective analysis of patient records and documented follow-up clinics, using a descriptive, qualitative approach and deductive-inductive content analysis. FINDINGS: According to both the records and documented memories of 162 patients (56 women and 106 men aged 18-75 years; mean 50.8, median 53.5 years) patients' confidence in their own recovery, including feelings of safety and ability to participate, is enhanced by counselling during intensive care. They had strong memories of counselling that gave them knowledge about their medical conditions and procedures, symptoms, care, and psychological support. At follow-up, patients did not have such strong memories of lifestyle counselling that they received during intensive care. CONCLUSION: Patients need counselling during an intensive care unit stay to improve their confidence in their recovery. The counselling strategy for intensive care should be documented, and patient memories collected during follow-up clinics, to help assessment of the quality of counselling provided in intensive care. IMPLICATIONS FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE: Counselling during intensive care enhances patients' confidence in their own recovery. To assess the quality of counselling it is essential to recognize the types provided and needed. Appropriate documentation is crucial for evaluating intensive care unit patient counselling, and planning its continuity.

Factors Influencing Influenza and COVID-19 Vaccine Decision-Making in the Post-ICU Period: A Secondary Analysis.

BACKGROUND: The introduction of COVID-19 vaccines exposed volatility and hesitancy around vaccines. Some health care models, including ICU recovery clinics (ICU-RCs), are structured to provide vaccine counseling. However, information regarding provider and patient vaccine conversations is limited in this postacute setting. RESEARCH QUESTION: What factors influence the decision-making process of patients who have survived an ICU stay surrounding influenza and COVID-19 vaccination? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: To understand further vaccine perceptions after critical illness, a secondary qualitative thematic analysis was performed using transcripts from a randomized controlled trial designed to develop and refine a telemedicine approach to ICU recovery. Thirty-three ICU-RC visits with 19 adult patients and 13 caregivers were conducted within 12 weeks of hospital discharge. The analysis was guided by the theory of planned behavior (TPB). RESULTS: Five themes were elicited from the data. The first four themes arose from the TPB: (1) behavioral and attitudinal beliefs (not being susceptible to the flu, concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine causing fertility issues, and not being tested enough), (2) normative beliefs (everyone they know is getting the influenza vaccine so they are, too), (3) control vaccine beliefs (patients are more likely to get the COVID-19 vaccine if it is easy to obtain), and (4) intention to vaccinate. Another theme not related to the TPB arose and could contribute to vaccine intent and behavior: (5) health team engagement with patients and caregivers (allowing for ICU clinicians to correct vaccine misinformation in real time). INTERPRETATION: Using the information learned in our study, the period after critical illness or other acute illness events may be an especially fruitful target for designing an action plan for improving public trust in vaccines and improving overall completion rates; however, further research is needed. TRIAL REGISTRY: ClinicalTrials.gov; No.: NCT03926533; URL: www.clinicaltrials.gov.

Multidisciplinary ICU Recovery Clinic Visits: A Qualitative Analysis of Patient-Provider Dialogues.

BACKGROUND: Research confirms the heterogeneous nature of patient challenges during recovery from the ICU and supports the need for modifying care experiences, but few data are available to guide clinicians seeking to support patients' individual recovery trajectories. RESEARCH QUESTION: What is the content of patient-provider dialogues in a telemedicine multidisciplinary ICU recovery clinic (ICU-RC)? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: We conducted a qualitative descriptive study in a telemedicine multidisciplinary ICU-RC at a tertiary academic medical center in the southeastern United States. The sample included 19 patients and 13 caregivers (≥ 18 years of age) attending a telemedicine ICU-RC visit after critical illness resulting from septic shock or ARDS. Patients and caregivers met with an ICU pharmacist, ICU physician, and a psychologist via a secure web-conferencing platform for 33 ICU-RC visits within 12 weeks of hospital discharge. Telemedicine ICU-RC visits were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim for analysis. A coding system was developed using iterative inductive and deductive approaches. RESULTS: Two themes were identified from the patient-provider dialogue: (1) problem identification and (2) problem-solving strategies. We identified five subthemes that capture the types of problems identified: health status, mental health and cognition, medication management, health-care access and navigation, and quality of life. Problem-solving subthemes included facilitating care coordination and transitions, providing education, and giving constructive feedback and guidance. INTERPRETATION: Patients surviving a critical illness experience a complexity of problems that may be addressed best by a multidisciplinary ICU-RC. Through analysis of our telemedicine ICU-RC dialogues, we were able to identify problems and solutions to address challenges during a critical transitional phase of ICU recovery. TRIAL REGISTRY: ClinicalTrials.gov; No.: NCT03926533; URL: www. CLINICALTRIALS: gov.

Organizational Health Literacy as a Tool for Health Equity: Application in a High-Risk Infant Follow-Up Program.

BACKGROUND: Healthy People 2030 emphasizes personal health literacy (individual skills) and organizational health literacy-the degree to which organizations equitably enable individuals to find, understand, and use information and services to inform health-related decisions and actions for themselves and others. However, research on the latter is in the early stages. METHODS: This study describes an organizational health literacy assessment in a U.S. urban academic children's hospital. A variety of evidence-based health literacy assessments were used to assess patient information materials and the environment, including institutional practices, navigation, culture and language, and communication. Trained interviewers and analysts reached consensus for all assessments. RESULTS: Information Items: SMOG scores (n = 9) ranged from 7th- to 14th-grade reading level (average = 11.3). PEMAT-P scores (n = 9) ranged from 43.8% to 93.8% understandability and 0% to 80% actionability. CDC CCI scores (literacy demand) (n = 6) ranged from 18.2% to 58.8% (≥90% = excellent). SAM scores (suitability) (n = 6) fell in the "adequate" range (43.2-58.3%). The PMOSE/IKIRSCH scores (complexity) (n = 3) noted low-moderate difficulty. Apter's Hierarchy (n = 4) revealed three numeracy domains (50% = descriptive purposes and decision-making, 100% = interpreting information). Organization-level: Walking interviews highlighted organizational facilitators and barriers related to the pre-visit and visit environments. HLE2 domain scores ranged from 52% to 68%. CONCLUSIONS: Organizational health literacy demands far outweigh the average literacy skills of adults in the U.S. (patients and staff). Findings can be used to hone quality improvement and other processes to focus on structural solutions to increase health equity.

Examining early intervention referral patterns in neonatal intensive care unit follow up clinics using telemedicine during COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) follow up programs are in place to ensure infant health and development are monitored after discharge. The COVID-19 Public Health Epidemic (PHE) negatively impacted the ability to conduct in-person NICU follow up visits. AIMS: This study examines using telemedicine in NICU follow up clinics and compares the rates of referral for further medical and/or educational developmental evaluation. A second objective of the study examines if telemedicine can be implemented in the future to ensure access to families while maintaining high levels of caregiver satisfaction. METHOD: Data were obtained retrospectively from clinical records from one state's NICU follow-up program. Patterns of referral for further developmental evaluation and caregiver satisfaction prior to the COVID-19 PHE and during the first year of the COVID-19 PHE were examined. A total of 658 NICU follow up visits (384 in-person and 274 telemedicine) were included. RESULTS: Chi Square analyses revealed significantly more medically related referrals were made during telemedicine visits compared to in-person visits, χ2 (1) = 5.55, p .05. There were no significant differences between the clinic types in the number of educationally based referrals made, χ2 (1) = 0.028, p > .05. CONCLUSION: The rates of referral for further evaluation made from in-person and telemedicine clinics were comparable, and caregivers were highly satisfied with telemedicine clinic visits. NICU follow up via a virtual platform saves time, money and is equally effective or better in identifying the need for referral for further evaluation.

Respiratory Therapists in an ICU Recovery Clinic: Two Institutional Experiences and Review of the Literature.

Post-intensive care syndrome is an increasingly recognized complication of critical illness, with patients reporting new problems in physical, mental health and/or psychosocial, and cognitive function for months to years after their acute illness. As a way of diagnosing and treating post-intensive care syndrome, many centers around the world have established ICU recovery clinics, which take a multidisciplinary approach to care after the ICU. Dyspnea and pulmonary dysfunction are frequently encountered concerns in the post-ICU population. Despite this, few ICU recovery clinics have described how respiratory therapists (RTs) can contribute to treating these symptoms. We reviewed the literature with regard to the roles of an RT in post-ICU follow-up, described our institutional experiences with having RTs as part of our ICU recovery clinics, and identified additional ways that RTs might contribute to a post-intensive care syndrome diagnosis and treatment. Although RTs can provide invaluable experience and contributions to an ICU recovery clinic, there are few articles in the published literature on the ways in which this can be accomplished. We, therefore, provide analogies to other multidisciplinary clinic models as well as our own experiences. Future studies should focus on examining the impact of respiratory therapy diagnostic testing and interventions in the ICU recovery clinic on both patient and provider outcomes.

ICU Recovery Clinic Attendance, Attrition, and Patient Outcomes: The Impact of Severity of Illness, Gender, and Rurality.

OBJECTIVES: The primary purpose is to characterize patients attending ICU recovery clinic and then describe their trajectory of cognitive and emotional health in 1 year. DESIGN: Retrospective observational study to assess attendance, attrition, and patient outcomes. SETTING: ICU Recovery Clinic. PATIENTS: Adult patients recently admitted to ICU for sepsis or acute respiratory failure and who were referred to clinic. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Thirty-eight patients (63%) attended ICU recovery clinic with a mean age of 53.2 ± 16 years (range, 20-82 yr), 42% female and mean Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores at an ICU admission of 9.4 ± 2.9 participated in outcomes. Twelve patients (32%) were lost to follow up and 12 patients (32%) were transferred to different providers before the end of 1 year. Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores were negatively associated with health-related quality of life at baseline (r = -0.41; p = 0.033; n = 28) and short term (r = -0.40; p = 0.037; n = 27). Male patients had higher Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores (mean difference = 2.4; t = 2.779; p = 0.008) and longer hospital length of stay (mean difference = 9.3; t = 2.27; p = 0.029). Female patients had higher scores on Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (mean difference = 7.2; t = 2.74; p = 0.01) and Impact of Events Scale-Revised (mean difference = 18.9; t = 2.74; p = 0.011) at the initial follow-up visit. Patients never attending clinic were more likely to live further away, have a tracheotomy, and spent longer time in the ICU. CONCLUSIONS: Attendance and attrition in ICU recovery clinic are related to patient factors (living in rural area) and ICU factors. Data suggest different recovery trajectories exist based on gender, severity of illness, and self-reported outcomes.

Alternative Dispositions for Emergency Department Patients.

Alternatives to inpatient admission have been shown to be safe and effective for a variety of clinical conditions and can help relieve emergency department (ED) and inpatient crowding. Evidence-based alternatives include use of rapid ED follow-up clinics, observation units, and home hospital programs. Use of accelerated diagnostic pathways and shared decision making can help support clinicians and patients in appropriately choosing an alternative disposition to traditional inpatient admission. However, many institutions struggle to fully embrace possible alternative depositions because of challenges of patient access, clinician and patient comfort with diagnostic uncertainty, and perceived medicolegal risks.

Factors associated with impaired physical functioning and mental health in working-age patients attending a post-intensive care follow-up clinic three months after hospital discharge.

Patients recovering from critical illness are often suffering from remarkable limitations in their everyday life. The purpose of this study was to find factors associated with poor physical functioning and mental health after critical illness. The study was conducted among patients who met the inclusion criteria of our post-intensive care unit follow-up clinic. The patients were invited to the follow-up clinic three months after hospital discharge. The participants filled out a RAND-36 questionnaire, underwent a clinical examination and were stratified to those with good or poor recovery according to physical functioning and emotional wellbeing. Altogether 332 out of 351 follow-up clinic attendees had data available for analysis. In physical functioning 40% of patients achieved a poor outcome. In mental health the percentage was 8%. The patients with poor physical functioning had a longer hospital stay and were more likely to have received vasopressors. Eleven out of 16 (69%) multitrauma patients had poor physical functioning. Patients with poor physical functioning had more memories of pain, achieved worse results in a six-minute walk test and were less likely to be able to move independently. The patients with poor mental health had higher delirium incidence and fewer memories of relatives' visits and of nurses. The conclusions of this study were that the memories of pain, multitrauma and longer hospital stay were associated with a poor physical functioning outcome. Delirium and a lack of memories of relatives and nurses were associated with a poor mental health outcome.

Follow-up program after intensive care unit discharge. / Programa de seguimiento al alta de la unidad de cuidados intensivos.

INTRODUCTION: Patient follow-up after intensive care unit (ICU) discharge allows the early recognition of complications associated to post-intensive care syndrome (PICS). The aim of this project is to standardize outcome variables in a follow-up program for patients at risk of suffering PICS. METHODS: The Rehabilitation and Patient Follow-up Committee of the Argentine Society of Intensive Care Medicine (Sociedad Argentina de Terapia Intensiva, SATI) requested the collaboration of different committees to design the present document. A thorough search of the literature on the issue, together with pre-scheduled meetings and web-based discussion encounters were carried out. After comprehensive evaluation, the recommendations according to the GRADE system included in the follow-up program were: frequency of controlled visits, appointed healthcare professionals, basic domains of assessment and recommended tools of evaluation, validated in Spanish, and entire duration of the program. CONCLUSION: The measures herein suggested for patient follow-up after ICU discharge will facilitate a basic approach to diagnosis and management of the long-term complications associated to PICS.

Who, where, and why are patients lost to follow-up? A 20-year study of bladder exstrophy patients at a single institution.

INTRODUCTION: Individuals with bladder and cloacal exstrophy are at increased risk for kidney disease, renal failure, and bladder complications. Given the social implications and sensitive nature of the disease, these patients are also at risk for psychosocial problems. Lack of regular medical follow-up visits may pose serious risks to their long-term health status. The aim of this study is determine what factors place an affected individual at risk for limited long term follow up. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified all patients with bladder or cloacal exstrophy seen by the pediatric urology department at the Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center (OUHSC) between January 1996 and August 2016. Patient data included demographics, insurance coverage, distance from patient's home to the clinic, medical and surgical history, and the date of their last clinic visit. Two groups for comparison were (1) those that had been seen within the last 2 years, and (2) those that were counted as failing to maintain follow-up because 2 or more years had passed since their last clinic visit. These groups were compared using the Student t-test, the chi-square test, or the Fisher exact test and p < 0.05 was treated as significant for the purposes of discussion. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Ninety-one patients with bladder or cloacal exstrophy were seen by the pediatric urology department between January 1996 and August 2016. Of the 91 patients, 24 left the clinic for known reasons thus leaving 67 patients that were considered for analyses: 51 had been seen within the last 2 years while 16 were counted as lost to follow-up. These two groups (active and lost to follow-up) did not differ significantly for age at last clinic visit, distance between family's home and clinic, history of bladder reconstruction, sex, or insurance status. There was a significant difference between the two groups in the medical complexity of their condition. The group active in urological care had more patients with cloacal exstrophy and additional anomalies than the group lost to follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with bladder exstrophy and cloacal exstrophy are less likely to maintain annual follow-up visits with their urologist if they have a simpler diagnosis requiring fewer surgical interventions. For patients with exstrophy, regular clinic visits prioritizing education and psychosocial support may prevent hospitalizations, emergency interventions, and poor overall health outcomes. To maintain contact with the medical team and promote optimal health outcomes, a social worker or care coordinator/educator may play an integral part in addressing the unique needs of this population.

Comprehensive care of ICU survivors: Development and implementation of an ICU recovery center.

PURPOSE: To describe the design and initial implementation of an Intensive Care Unit Recovery Center (ICU-RC) in the United States. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective, observational feasibility study was undertaken at an academic hospital between July 2012 and December 2015. Clinical criteria were used to develop the ICU-RC, identify patients at high risk for post intensive care syndrome (PICS), and offer them post-ICU care. RESULTS: 218/307 referred patients (71%) survived to hospital discharge; 62 (28% of survivors) were seen in clinic. Median time from discharge to ICU-RC visit was 29days. At initial evaluation, 64% of patients had clinically meaningful cognitive impairment. Anxiety and depression were present in 37% and 27% of patients, respectively. One in three patients was unable to ambulate independently; median 6min walk distance was 56% predicted. Of 47 previously working patients, 7 (15%) had returned to work. Case management and referral services were provided 142 times. The median number of interventions per patient was 4. CONCLUSIONS: An ICU-RC identified a high prevalence of cognitive impairment, anxiety, depression, physical debility, lifestyle changes, and medication-related problems warranting intervention. Whether an ICU-RC can improve ICU recovery in the US should be investigated in a systematic way.

Pulmonary Embolism Response Team: Inpatient Structure, Outpatient Follow-up, and Is It the Current Standard of Care?

Pulmonary Embolism Response Teams (PERTs) are being created around the United States to immediately and simultaneously bring together multiple specialists to determine the best course of action and coordinate clinical care for patients with severe pulmonary embolism (PE). The organization and structure of each PERT will depend on local clinical demands and resources. Creating a follow up clinic for PE patients after discharge from the hospital is an essential component of any PERT program. PERT programs, which have come together to form the PERT Consortium®, are changing the landscape of PE treatment and may represent a new standard of care.

The Role of Critical Care Pharmacists Beyond Intensive Care Units: A Narrative Review on Medication Management for ICU Survivors

Abstract There is a global improvement in critical care services that leads to prolonged survival after ICU stay. This improvement has increased the demand for multidisciplinary critical care services beyond the ICU. Recently, efforts focused on the patient's quality of life after ICU discharge and family involvement in their care. Most older adults who survive an ICU stay are challenged by complex medication changes following discharge, as are their caregivers. Limited literature addresses the standard of practice for medication management and critical care pharmacists' involvement in post-ICU services. This narrative review describes the available literature that addresses medication management in post-ICU settings by critical care pharmacists and potential axes for future research. The included articles were articles published in English related to adult ICU survivors and addressed pharmacist involvement or medication management. The main findings summarize the most performed pharmacist services following ICU discharge, including medication reconciliation, full medication review, and adverse drug event preventative measures. This review concluded a lack of consensus about the standard model of post-ICU pharmacy services and the relationship of these services with long-term outcomes.