Innovative prototype presented for post-ICU patients

(HealthDay)—A collaborative care model, the Critical Care Recovery Center (CCRC), represents an innovative prototype aimed to improve the quality of life of intensive care unit (ICU) survivors, according to a report published in the March issue of the American Journal of Nursing.

Babar A. Khan, M.D., from the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis, and colleagues discuss the development and implementation of a collaborative care model, the CCRC, which opened in 2011 and aims to maximize the cognitive, physical, and psychological recovery of ICU survivors.

The researchers note that the CCRC was developed around the principles of implementation and complexity science, with a secondary focus on research. Care was provided through a pre-CCRC assessment of patient and caregiver needs; an initial diagnostic work-up visit; and a follow-up visit, including a family conference. During the initial assessment, the CCRC team formulates and implements an individualized care plan. During the follow-up phase, the patient's care plan is monitored and modified based on feedback relating to patient progress.

"Our preliminary data and experience with the CCRC suggest that a collaborative, interdisciplinary care model can enhance the cognitive, physical, and psychological recovery of ICU survivors," the authors write. "The CCRC represents a prototype in the United States for providing post-ICU care to patients who present with post-intensive care syndrome."

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