Rapid response system and continuity of nursing care programme for the prevention of post-ICU syndrome

The clinical deterioration of patients admitted to hospital wards, characterised by physiological abnormalities, can be predicted 6-24 h in advance and often depends on the nurse's ability to detect it early. In addition, advances in the treatment and care of the critically ill patient have increased survival after discharge from the intensive care unit (ICU). This, together with increased severity, frailty, prolonged stays and special treatment needs, means that ICU survivors may have physical weakness and mental and/or cognitive impairment that persists over time. In this context, it is necessary to provide personalised care that guarantees the continuity of nursing care in the different care settings through which patients and their families pass. For all these reasons, a continuity of care nursing consultation was designed and implemented in conjunction with a surveillance system on all hospital wards and nurse monitoring for the prevention of post-acute syndrome after discharge from a critical care unit. More than 665 adult inpatient beds are currently under surveillance. In the study period from February 2023 to January 2024, of the 2126 patients discharged from the critical care unit, 87 were in post-ICU follow-up, 55 in full follow-up and 32 in partial follow-up. The implementation of a surveillance system, monitoring in the continuity of nursing care throughout the disease and during the recovery phases, at the different levels of care (critical care, hospitalisation, primary care), can prevent and/or minimise the physical, psychological and cognitive alterations of the post-ICU syndrome and can contribute to the recovery of the quality of life of patients and their families.