Nutrition intervention in ICU improves outcomes

Enteral feedings within three days can reduce length of time on a ventilator and improve outcomes for critically ill patients. Such feedings, which cost only about $80 per day, could save Medicare as much as $1.08 billion from 1996 to 2002, according to a study by Washington, DC-based KPMG Peat Marwick. A concerted effort to disseminate these findings led 66% of nurses at a California hospital to change their practice regarding early nutrition support.