SCCM Resource Library-Post-Intensive Care Syndrome Clinics: Lessons Learned from Three Centers

Pdf Summary

The document discusses the establishment and operation of Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS) clinics, which have become increasingly important in critical care. These clinics aim to address a wide range of unmet needs that patients face after surviving critical illness. Three experts from different centers—Dr. Carla M. Sevin at Vanderbilt University, Dr. Heather Torbic at the Cleveland Clinic, and Julie Rogan at Penn Medicine—share their experiences and insights.<br /><br />The driving force behind these clinics is to assist ICU survivors who often experience ongoing impairments. Each center has its unique origins: Vanderbilt was influenced by a personal incident involving an ICU director's family member, Cleveland Clinic sought to identify impairments early, and Penn Medicine was inspired by the large percentage of patients experiencing PICS symptoms and the potential of ICU diaries.<br /><br />Team composition is multidisciplinary, involving critical care pharmacists, nursing staff, respiratory therapists, and mental health professionals. Funding challenges are prevalent but often overcome with institutional support or grants. Success metrics include reduced hospital readmission rates, identification of safety events, and patient satisfaction.<br /><br />The document highlights barriers such as patient recruitment, lack of PICS awareness, and logistical challenges. These challenges are mitigated by patient engagement strategies, enhancing awareness, and refining clinic processes.<br /><br />The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated adaptations like telemedicine, allowing clinics to maintain service delivery and manage increased demand. The experts provide practical advice for setting up PICS clinics, emphasizing starting without perfection, securing leadership support, and continuously adapting to patient needs. This holistic approach seeks to improve recovery for ICU survivors while reducing clinician burnout by showcasing the positive outcomes of intensive care efforts.

Asset Subtitle

Patient and Family Support, Crisis Management, 2021, 00:08:12

Asset Caption

This article was first published in the Winter 2021 issue of Critical Connections.

The prevention, recognition, and management of post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) has come to the forefront in critical care and with it comes the emergence of the PICS clinic. Also known as post-ICU, ICU follow-up, or ICU recovery clinics, PICS clinics are commonly multidisciplinary team clinics developed to address a broad spectrum of unmet needs after critical illness. These clinics have been associated with reduced hospital readmission and reduced time to readmission. They help clinicians gain a better understanding of the patient experience to improve their ICU care. Experts from three organizations shared their experiences and discuss what prompted them to start a clinic and the challenges and successes they have had along their journey.

Critical Connections, the critical care industry's only newsmagazine, provides information on cutting-edge topics in critical care useful to the entire multiprofessional team.

Meta Tag

Content Type Article

Knowledge Area Patient and Family Support

Knowledge Area Crisis Management

Knowledge Level Intermediate

Knowledge Level Advanced

Membership Level Select

Membership Level Professional

Membership Level Associate

Tag Rehabilitation Medicine

Tag COVID-19

Year 2021

Keywords

Post-Intensive Care Syndrome

PICS clinics

ICU survivors

multidisciplinary team

patient recruitment

telemedicine

COVID-19 adaptations

critical care

patient satisfaction

recovery improvement

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