How Successful Are Residents and Fellows at Quality Improvement?

BACKGROUND: Nationally, there is an expectation that residents and fellows participate in quality improvement (QI), preferably interprofessionally. Hospitals and educators invest time and resources in projects, but little is known about success rates or what fosters success. PURPOSE: To understand what proportion of trainee QI projects were successful and whether there were predictors of success. METHODS: We examined resident and fellow QI projects in an integrated healthcare system that supports diverse training programs in multiple hospitals over 2 years. All projects were reviewed to determine whether they represented actual QI. Projects determined as QI were considered completed or successful based on QI project sponsor self-report. Multiple characteristics were compared between successful and unsuccessful projects. RESULTS: Trainees submitted 258 proposals, of which 106 (41.1%) represented actual QI. Non-QI projects predominantly represented needs assessments or retrospective data analyses. Seventy-six percent (81/106) of study sponsors completed surveys about their projects. Less than 25% of projects (59/258) represented actual QI and were successful. Project category was predictive of success, specifically those aimed at preventive care or education. CONCLUSION: Less than a quarter of trainee QI projects represent successful QI. IMPLICATIONS: Hospitals and training programs should identify interventions to improve trainee QI experience.

Patient-specific, time-varying predictors of post-ICU informal caregiver burden: the caregiver outcomes after ICU discharge project.

BACKGROUND: The outcomes of informal caregivers of survivors of critical illness likely depend on patient characteristics, which may change over time. To date, few studies have examined patient-specific predictors of post-ICU informal caregiver burden, and none has tested whether predictors vary after hospital discharge. METHODS: We designed a prospective, longitudinal observational study, enrolling 48 patient-caregiver dyads from four ICUs in a university hospital. Informal caregiver depression symptoms were measured with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale. Lifestyle disruption was measured with the Activity Restriction Scale. Linear regression models were built to test for patient- and caregiver-specific predictors of depression symptoms and lifestyle disruption 2, 6, and 12 months after ICU admission. RESULTS: Patients had a mean (SD) age of 52.5 (19.7) years, 67% were men, median (interquartile range) Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation score was 52 (38.5, 65). The caregivers had a mean (SD) age of 52.8 (12.8) years, 91.2% were women, and 48% were spouses. Predictors of caregiver depression symptoms were patient gender (men) at 2 and 12 months and tracheostomy at 12 months. Predictors of lifestyle disruption were patient education (more common among high school graduates) and patient gender (men) at 2 months, and tracheostomy, functional dependency, and patient gender (men) at 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: The determinants of post-ICU informal caregiver burden likely depend on characteristics of the patient as well as the caregiver and may vary over time. Further research is necessary to better understand the longitudinal determinants of burden in order to develop more effective caregiver interventions.

Peripherally inserted central catheter use in the hospitalized patient: is there a role for the hospitalist?

BACKGROUND: Peripherally-inserted central venous catheters (PICCs) are frequently used in hospitals for central intravenous access. These catheters may offer advantages over traditional central catheters with respect to ease of placement and decreased complication rates. However, hospital physicians have not traditionally been trained to place PICCs. METHODS: We trained 3 of 5 hospitalists to place PICCs in our small university-affiliated community hospital as we converted from a house physician model to a hospitalist model for inpatient care. We then looked retrospectively at the rates of all PICC and other central catheter placements as well as the number of femoral and nonfemoral catheter days for the 18-month period prior to and after the inception of the hospitalist program. RESULTS: Comparing the periods prior to and after the inception of the hospitalist program, the total number of central catheter placements doubled and the PICC rate rose from 20% to 80% of all central catheters. The rate of femoral and subclavian catheter placements decreased by approximately 50% and the rate of internal jugular catheter placement was roughly unchanged. There was also a fall in the number of femoral catheter days and a great increase in the number of total nonfemoral catheter days. The rate of catheter-related bacteremia remained low and did not appear to increase. CONCLUSIONS: PICCs may be a safe and easy alternative to centrally placed catheters for the hospital physician attempting to secure central intravenous access and may lead to a decrease in the need for more risky central venous catheter (CVC) insertions.

Outcomes Associated With Delirium in Older Patients in Surgical ICUs.

BACKGROUND: We previously noted that older adults admitted to surgical ICUs (SICUs) are at high risk for delirium. In the current study, we describe the association between the presence of delirium and complications in older SICU patients, and describe the association between delirium occurring in the SICU and functional ability and discharge placement for older patients. METHODS: Secondary analysis of prospective, observational, cohort study. Subjects were 114 consecutive patients >or= 65 years old admitted to a surgical critical care service. All subjects underwent daily delirium and sedation/agitation screening during hospitalization. Outcomes prospectively recorded included SICU complication development, discharge location, and functional ability (as measured by the Katz activities of daily living instrument). RESULTS: Nearly one third of older adults (31.6%) admitted to an SICU had a complication during ICU stay. There was a strong association between SICU delirium and complication occurrence (p = 0.001). Complication occurrence preceded delirium diagnosis for 16 of 20 subjects. Subjects with delirium in the SICU were more likely to be discharged to a place other than home (61.3% vs 20.5%, p < 0.0001) and have greater functional decline (67.7% vs 43.6%, p = 0.023) than nondelirious subjects. After adjusting for covariates including severity of illness and mechanical ventilation use, delirium was found to be strongly and independently associated with greater odds of being discharged to a place other than home (odds ratio, 7.20; 95% confidence interval, 1.93 to 26.82). CONCLUSIONS: Delirium in older surgical ICU patients is associated with complications and an increased likelihood of discharge to a place other than home.

An economic evaluation of prolonged mechanical ventilation.

OBJECTIVE: Patients who receive prolonged mechanical ventilation have high resource utilization and relatively poor outcomes, especially the elderly, and are increasing in number. The economic implications of prolonged mechanical ventilation provision, however, are uncertain and would be helpful to providers and policymakers. Therefore, we aimed to determine the lifetime societal value of prolonged mechanical ventilation. DESIGN AND PATIENTS: Adopting the perspective of a healthcare payor, we developed a Markov model to determine the cost effectiveness of providing mechanical ventilation for at least 21 days to a 65-yr-old critically ill base-case patient compared with the provision of comfort care resulting in withdrawal of ventilation. Input data were derived from the medical literature, Medicare, and a recent large cohort study of ventilated patients. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We determined lifetime costs and survival, quality-adjusted life expectancy, and cost effectiveness as reflected by costs per quality-adjusted life-year gained. Providing prolonged mechanical ventilation to the base-case patient cost "dollars"55,460 per life-year gained and "dollars"82,411 per quality-adjusted life-year gained compared with withdrawal of ventilation. Cost-effectiveness ratios were most sensitive to variation in age, hospital costs, and probability of readmission, although less sensitive to postacute care-facility costs. Specifically, incremental costs per quality-adjusted life-year gained by prolonged mechanical ventilation provision exceeded "dollars"100,000 with age >or=68 and when predicted 1-yr mortality was >50%. CONCLUSIONS: The cost effectiveness of prolonged mechanical ventilation provision varies dramatically based on age and likelihood of poor short- and long-term outcomes. Identifying patients likely to have unfavorable outcomes, lowering intensity of care for appropriate patients, and reducing costly readmissions should be future priorities in improving the value of prolonged mechanical ventilation.

Differences in one-year health outcomes and resource utilization by definition of prolonged mechanical ventilation: a prospective cohort study.

INTRODUCTION: The outcomes of patients ventilated for longer than average are unclear, in part because of the lack of an accepted definition of prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV). To better understand the implications of PMV provision, we compared one-year health outcomes between two common definitions of PMV as well as between PMV patients and those ventilated for shorter periods of time. METHODS: We conducted a secondary analysis of prospectively collected data from medical and surgical intensive care units at an academic tertiary care medical center. The study included 817 critically ill patients ventilated for > or = 48 hours, 267 (33%) of whom received PMV based on receipt of a tracheostomy and ventilation for > or = 96 hours. A total of 114 (14%) patients met the alternate definition of PMV by being ventilated for > or = 21 days. Survival, functional status, and costs were measured at baseline and at 2, 6, and 12 months after discharge. Of one-year survivors, 71 (17%) were lost to follow up. RESULTS: PMV patients ventilated for > or = 21 days had greater costs ($140,409 versus $143,389) and higher one-year mortality (58% versus 48%) than did PMV patients with tracheostomies who were ventilated for > or = 96 hours. The majority of PMV deaths (58%) occurred after hospital discharge whereas 67% of PMV patients aged 65 years or older had died by one year. At one year PMV patients on average had limitations in two basic and five instrumental elements of functional status that exceeded both their pre-admission status and the one-year disability of those ventilated for < 96 hours. Costs per one-year survivor were $423,596, $266,105, and $165,075 for patients ventilated > or = 21 days, > or = 96 hours with a tracheostomy, and < 96 hours, respectively. CONCLUSION: Contrasting definitions of PMV capture significantly different patient populations, with > or = 21 days of ventilation specifying the most resource-intensive recipients of critical care. PMV patients, particularly the elderly, suffer from a significant burden of costly, chronic critical illness and are at high risk for death throughout the first year after intensive care.

Informal caregiver burden among survivors of prolonged mechanical ventilation.

RATIONALE: Although caregiver burden is well described in chronic illness, few studies have examined burden among caregivers of survivors of critical illness. In existing studies, it is unclear whether the observed burden is a consequence of critical illness or of preexisting patient illness. OBJECTIVES: To describe 1-yr longitudinal outcomes for caregivers of patients who survived critical illness, and to compare depression risk between caregivers of patients with and without pre-intensive care unit (ICU) functional dependency. METHODS: Prospective, parallel, cohort study of survivors of prolonged (greater than 48 h) mechanical ventilation and their informal caregivers. Caregivers were divided into two cohorts on the basis of whether patients were functionally independent (n = 99, 59%), or dependent (n = 70, 41%) before admission. Functional dependency was defined as dependency in one or more activities of daily living or in three or more instrumental activities of daily living. Patient and caregiver outcomes were measured 2, 6, and 12 mo after mechanical ventilation initiation. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We studied three caregiver outcomes: depression risk, lifestyle disruption, and employment reduction. Most patients were male (59.8%), with a mean (SD) age of 56.6 (19.0) yr. Caregivers were mostly female (75.7%), with a mean (SD) age of 54.6 (14.7) yr. Prevalence of caregiver depression risk was high at all time points (33.9, 30.8, and 22.8%; p = 0.83) and did not vary by patient pre-ICU functional status. Lifestyle disruption and employment reduction were also common and persistent. CONCLUSIONS: Depression symptoms, lifestyle disruption, and employment reduction were common among informal caregivers of critical illness survivors. Depression risk was high regardless of patient pre-ICU functional status.

Preferences for mechanical ventilation among survivors of prolonged mechanical ventilation and tracheostomy.

BACKGROUND: Among survivors of prolonged mechanical ventilation, preferences for this treatment have rarely been explored. OBJECTIVES: To elicit preferences of survivors of prolonged mechanical ventilation (>or=7 days) and factors influencing these preferences. METHODS: A descriptive, cross-sectional survey design was used. Subjects were recruited from intensive care units in a tertiary care hospital and from long-term care facilities. Each subject (n = 30) was asked to reflect on the decision to use mechanical ventilation; rate current health, pain/discomfort in the intensive care unit and from mechanical ventilation, perceived family financial burden, and emotional/physical stress related to mechanical ventilation; identify changes that would influence preference for mechanical ventilation; and answer questions about quality of life, functional status, depressive symptoms, and communication. RESULTS: Most subjects (75.9%) would have chosen mechanical ventilation. Median days of mechanical ventilation and tracheostomy were greater for subjects who would have chosen mechanical ventilation (98.5 vs 70), as were median days of tracheostomy (102 vs 64). Patients who would not have chosen mechanical ventilation had more depressive symptoms and were more likely to be insured by Medicare. No other variables differed between groups. Patients who preferred mechanical ventilation would change their preference on the basis of their families' emotional/physical stress and financial burden. Patients who did not prefer mechanical ventilation would change their preference if the family financial burden and emotional/physical stress were reduced and current health improved. CONCLUSIONS: Most patients would have chosen mechanical ventilation. Survivors' preferences were influenced by their current health and families' financial burden and stress.

Prevalence and outcomes of caregiving after prolonged (> or =48 hours) mechanical ventilation in the ICU.

OBJECTIVES: (1) To estimate caregiver support required by patients 2 months after prolonged (at least 48 h) mechanical ventilation (MV) in an ICU; (2) to describe caregiver burden, caregiver depressive symptomatology, and caregiver limitations in activities; and (3) to investigate factors related to depressive symptoms at 2 months in caregivers. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. STUDY PARTICIPANTS: Caregivers of 115 patients who received prolonged MV in an ICU. MEASUREMENTS: Sociodemographics, employment status, hours spent providing care, help from paid caregiving sources, caregiver burden, and caregiver depressive symptoms. RESULTS: The proportion of patients who survived at least 2 months and required caregiver support was 74.8%. The average age of caregivers was 52.9 years (SD, 14.2), 76.5% were women, and more than half were spouses (52.2%). Only 33 of the caregivers (28.7%) were working, and 30.3% had to reduce their time spent at work to provide care to the patient. The prevalence of risk of clinical depression (defined as Center for Epidemiological Studies depression scale [CES-D] score > or =16) among caregivers was 33.9%. The mean caregiver CES-D score was 13.2 (SD, 11; median, 10). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that higher CES-D score was associated with more hours per day helping with patients' activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living (p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Two months after being placed on MV for at least 48 h, a high proportion of patients need caregiver support. Approximately 34% of caregivers are at risk of clinical depression. Many caregivers report lifestyle changes and burden when providing care for the patients.

Long-term mortality and quality of life after prolonged mechanical ventilation.

OBJECTIVE: To describe and identify factors associated with mortality rate and quality of life 1 yr after prolonged mechanical ventilation. DESIGN: Prospective, observational cohort study with patient recruitment over 26 months and follow-up for 1 yr. SETTING: Intensive care units at a tertiary care university hospital. PATIENTS: Adult patients receiving prolonged mechanical ventilation. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: We measured mortality rate and functional status, defined as the inability to perform instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) 1 yr following prolonged mechanical ventilation. The study enrolled 817 patients. Their median age was 65 yrs, 46% were women, and 44% were alive at 1 yr. Median ages at baseline of 1-yr survivors and nonsurvivors were 53 and 71 yrs, respectively. At the time of admission to the hospital, survivors had fewer comorbidities, lower severity of illness score, and less dependence compared with nonsurvivors. Severity of illness on admission to the intensive care unit and prehospitalization functional status had a significant association with short-term mortality rate, whereas age and comorbidities were related to long-term mortality. Fifty-seven percent of the surviving patients needed caregiver assistance at 1 yr of follow-up. The odds of having IADL dependence at 1-yr among survivors was greater in older patients (odds ratio 1.04 for 1-yr increase in age) and those with IADL dependence before hospitalization (odds ratio 2.27). CONCLUSIONS: Mortality rate after prolonged mechanical ventilation is high. Long-term mortality rate is associated with older age and poor prehospitalization functional status. Many survivors needed assistance after discharge from the hospital, and more than half still required caregiver assistance at 1 yr. Interventions providing support for caregivers and patients may improve the functional status and quality of life of both groups and thus need to be evaluated.

Quality of life and dialysis decisions in critically ill patients with acute renal failure.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether health-related quality of life (HRQL) in survivors of acute renal failure (ARF) occurring in intensive care is predictable from data available at the time of acute illness. DESIGN AND SETTING: Prospective pilot study in academic intensive care units. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients requiring renal replacement therapy for ARF while in intensive care over a 6-month enrollment period were included. The primary outcome measure was HRQL among survivors 6 months following hospital discharge, as assessed by the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), and its association with Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) III score. We also asked survivors whether, in retrospect, they would choose to have dialysis again and what factors influenced this decision. RESULTS: Ninety-two percent (12/13) of participants surviving 6 months completed the follow-up interview. The mean mental and physical components of the SF-36 were comparable to and slightly lower than the age-matched general population, respectively. There was no correlation between APACHE III score at the time of dialysis initiation and SF-36 score at 6 months. Almost all patients, regardless of their HRQL, stated they would choose dialysis again. CONCLUSIONS: HRQL may not be predictable from data available at the time of dialysis initiation in this population. In retrospect, surviving patients agree with the decision to accept dialysis, even when their HRQL is poor.

Hospital costs in patients receiving prolonged mechanical ventilation: does age have an impact?

BACKGROUND: The aging of the population is one of the causes of the increase in healthcare costs in the past few decades. It is controversial whether chronological age alone should be used in making healthcare decisions. OBJECTIVE: To determine the association between age and hospital costs in patients receiving mechanical ventilation (MV). DESIGN: Prospective, observational study. SETTING: Intensive care units at a teaching hospital. PATIENTS: A total of 813 adults who received prolonged (> or =48 hrs) mechanical ventilation. INTERVENTION: None. MEASUREMENTS: Severity of illness, comorbidities, length of stay, hospital costs, and mortality. We evaluated the independent association of age with hospital costs using linear regression. RESULTS: Mean (+/-sd) age of patients was 60.4 +/- 18.8 yrs. Median Acute Physiology Chronic Health Evaluation III score and probability of hospital death at intensive care unit admission were 64 and 0.31, respectively. Hospital mortality was 36%. Median total hospital costs and daily costs were $ 56,056 and $2,655 US dollars, respectively. Older age was associated with lower total hospital costs after controlling for sex, intensive care unit type, severity of illness, length of stay, insurance type, resuscitation status, and survival. Hospital costs were significantly less in older patients in all cost departments examined, except for respiratory care and intensive care unit room costs. CONCLUSIONS: Daily and total hospital costs were lower in older patients. Decreased hospital resource use in older patients may be related to a preference for less aggressive care by older patients and their families or by healthcare providers.

Early discharge following abdominal aortic aneurysm repair: Impact on patients and caregivers.

Although early discharge is common place, little is known about its impact after abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) surgery. We sought to prospectively describe patient outcomes and caregiving experience after early discharge following elective AAA repair using a standard or endovascular grafting system (EGS) procedure. Fifty-one patients (Standard, n=25; EGS, n=26) completed questionnaires on symptoms and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) while hospitalized and 1, 4, and 8 weeks after discharge. Data were also obtained from caregivers. HRQoL decreased at Week 1 in both groups but returned to near baseline by Week 8. Standard AAA patients experienced more symptoms and activity limitations, but these were concentrated in Week 1. Most caregivers were positive about caregiving and required no additional resources. Findings suggest that most patients who undergo early discharge following elective AAA surgery experience few problems. Those problems that occur concentrate in the week following discharge, suggesting the need for closer monitoring at this time.

Patients' recollections of stressful experiences while receiving prolonged mechanical ventilation in an intensive care unit.

OBJECTIVE: To describe stressful experiences of adult patients who received mechanical ventilation for > or =48 hrs in an intensive care unit. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Four intensive care units within an East Coast tertiary-care university medical center. PATIENTS: Patients were 150 adult intensive care unit patients receiving mechanical ventilation for > or =48 hrs. INTERVENTION: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: As part of a study of the long-term outcomes of adult patients requiring prolonged mechanical ventilation, we used a 32-item questionnaire to collect data on patients' stressful experiences, both psychological (e.g., fearfulness, anxiety) and physical (e.g., pain, difficulty breathing), associated with the mechanical ventilation endotracheal tube and with being in an intensive care unit. Of 554 patients who met study criteria and survived prolonged mechanical ventilation, 150 consented and were oriented to person, place, and situation. Two thirds of these patients remembered the endotracheal tube and/or being in an intensive care unit. The median numbers of endotracheal tube and intensive care unit experiences remembered were 3 (of 7) and 9 (of 22), respectively. If a patient remembered an experience in the questionnaire, it was likely to be moderately to extremely bothersome. Some of the items that many patients found to be moderately to extremely bothersome were pain, fear, anxiety, lack of sleep, feeling tense, inability to speak/communicate, lack of control, nightmares, and loneliness. Stressful experiences associated with the endotracheal tube were strongly associated with subjects' experiencing spells of terror, feeling nervous when left alone, and poor sleeping patterns. CONCLUSIONS: Subjects were more likely to remember experiences that were moderately to extremely bothersome. This might be because the more bothersome experiences were easier to recall or because most of these experiences are common and significant stressors to many of these patients. In either case, these data indicate that these patients are subject to numerous stressful experiences, which many find quite bothersome. This suggests the potential for improved symptom management, which could contribute to a less stressful intensive care unit stay and improved patient outcomes.

How patients feel about prolonged mechanical ventilation 1 year later.

OBJECTIVES: To elicit mechanical ventilation preferences among patients who previously received prolonged (>/=48 hrs) mechanical ventilation, to identify patient characteristics associated with mechanical ventilation preferences, and to assess the association between the intensive care experience and mechanical ventilation preferences. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study conducted between June of 1997 and July of 2000. SETTING: Four intensive care units at a tertiary care institution. PATIENTS: Former critically ill patients (n = 133; mean age +/- sd, 51.8 +/- 17.1 yrs; 49% women) who survived for 12 months after prolonged mechanical ventilation. MEASUREMENTS: Patients' preferences toward their actual mechanical ventilation experiences, by asking patients to reflect on the decision to apply mechanical ventilation made 1 yr earlier. Preferences for hypothetical situations, by asking patients to evaluate mechanical ventilation choices, assuming that their experiences had been different in terms of pain or discomfort, familial financial burden and stress, and health status after mechanical ventilation. RESULTS: Of the 133 patients, 115 (86.5%) would have chosen mechanical ventilation, with younger and healthier patients having higher odds of choosing mechanical ventilation than older and sicker patients, respectively. One fourth of patients who initially would have chosen mechanical ventilation would have refused this therapy had their families' financial burdens been beyond certain thresholds. A similar proportion would have refused mechanical ventilation with greater mechanical ventilation pain or discomfort. CONCLUSION: Although most subjects would have made the same decision to receive mechanical ventilation, younger and healthier subjects were most likely to favor mechanical ventilation. Many patients indicated that factors such as the amount of pain or discomfort from mechanical ventilation and their families' financial burden would cause them to refuse this potentially life-saving intervention.