A model for quantifying quality initiatives in intensive care

A balance should exist in health care organizations between the focus on cost containment and quality improvement efforts. This is particularly important in relation to critical care in that intensive care units (ICUs) absorb a significant proportion of the hospital's budget. The purpose of this article is to present a model that can be used to quantify the financial value to the institution of quality ICU outcomes achieved as a result of implementation of ventilator bundle initiatives. This one-bed ICU model illustrates the value of improving the care for one patient and cost, quantifying the outcomes that result through a focus on cost savings, revenue enhancement, and cost avoidance.