Mary Jo Gorman, M.D., MBA, Outlines How to Integrate Hospitalist Physicians into the ICU Team on SCCM Webinar

ST. LOUIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Hospitalists’ involvement on the ICU care team should incorporate training in ICU best practices, a clearly identified process clarifying roles and responsibilities, and back-up by intensivist physicians, such as a tele-ICU program that can ensure 24/7 availability. These recommendations were presented by Mary Jo Gorman, M.D., chief executive officer and founder of Advanced ICU Care, during a webinar sponsored by the Society for Critical Care Medicine on September 20, 2011.

“To achieve optimal results in the ICU, a solid, well-delineated process is more important than which people are on the team or what the intervention is,” said Dr. Gorman. “Hospitals must establish a robust process with best practices, measurements and goal setting to which the whole team can agree.”

Since hospitalists are already in the hospital seeing patients, it is logical to consider these physicians as potential members of the ICU team. However, few hospitalists have had critical care medicine fellowship training, and most have spent limited time in the ICU. The hospital must also consider the hospitalists’ time commitment given their existing duties, which range from interventions in the emergency department to planning timely discharges to communication with families and primary care physicians. There is also the possibility that the hospitalists are not in the hospital 24/7 and therefore are not able to provide round-the-clock ICU coverage.

“Recent studies recommend that an intensivist physician be available 24/7 in the ICU, and cite statistics on improvements in patient care and safety that occur when this level of care is available,” noted Dr. Gorman. “However, with the current intensivist shortage, it is just not possible for most hospitals to achieve this standard. An ICU program available through telemedicine can leverage these scarce professional resources and provide back-up for the hospitalist and other bedside physicians.”

The incorporation of hospitalists into the ICU team should also include daily multi-disciplinary goal-directed rounds, dedicated ICU time without competing priorities, robust back-up and cross coverage, best practice implementation and ICU committee participation. Hospitalist training for ICU team participation should focus on ICU best practices and common procedures, such as ventilator management and trouble shooting, the use of fluids, and the prevention of sepsis.

“With the right design and a carefully planned transition, the hospitalist can be an important member of the ICU team,” concluded Dr. Gorman.

About Advanced ICU Care

Advanced ICU Care ®, provides high-quality critical care to patients in the intensive care unit. Through experienced clinicians, supported by cutting-edge telemedicine technology and a process improvement program, Advanced ICU Care provides continuous ICU patient monitoring and improved care and safety outcomes to critically ill patients across the country. Hospital ICUs are linked with Advanced ICU Care's Monitoring Center, allowing Advanced ICU Care's board-certified intensivists (critical care medicine physicians) and critical care nurses to monitor hospital ICU patients from a central location. For more information, visit: www.icumedicine.com.

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