Critical Care Organizations: Building and Integrating Academic Programs

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Critical Care Medicine
• Academic Medical Centers

Background:

• Academic medical centers are expanding their mission beyond patient care, research, and education to include healthcare delivery improvement.
• Integrated Critical Care Organizations (ICCOs) have emerged within academic centers to address these evolving challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide administrators and intensivists with resources, communication strategies, and an organizational framework for effective ICCO formation and integration.
• To develop a toolkit for advancing academic Critical Care Organizations.

Main Methods:

• A taskforce of leaders in Critical Care Medicine convened to develop a toolkit.
• Methods included regular conference calls, literature reviews, and accessing online resources from federal and national organizations.

Main Results:

• Key elements of academic ICCOs are outlined, linking patient care, safety, and quality missions with research, education, and professional development.
• The study describes core features, benefits, barriers, and recommendations for integrating academic programs within ICCOs.
• Resources and readings are provided to support implementation, with a focus on communication with leadership.

Conclusions:

• Academic critical care programs should transition to integrated Critical Care Organizations within academic medical centers.
• Recommendations and resources are presented to facilitate this transition, fostering ICCO effectiveness and success.