Development of a surgical/trauma intermediate care unit

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Nursing Care Models
• Trauma Care Systems

Background:

• Rising healthcare costs and critical care bed demand strain hospital resources.
• A significant percentage (36%) of surgical intensive care unit patients require intermediate nursing care.
• Existing hospital structures often fail to meet the specific needs of these patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the multidisciplinary development of a surgical/trauma intermediate care unit.
• To highlight the role of advanced practice nurses in establishing and operating this new unit.
• To address the gap in care for patients needing less than ICU but more than general ward services.

Main Methods:

• A multidisciplinary team convened to plan and develop the intermediate care unit.
• Key elements defined included goals, admission/discharge criteria, and administrative responsibilities.
• An educational program was created based on staff needs assessment.

Main Results:

• A new surgical/trauma intermediate care unit was successfully developed and implemented.
• Advanced practice nurses played a crucial role as resource personnel during implementation and operation.
• The unit effectively addressed the identified need for intermediate care levels.

Conclusions:

• Multidisciplinary collaboration is essential for creating specialized care units.
• Advanced practice nurses are vital in the development and success of innovative healthcare models.
• Intermediate care units can optimize patient flow and nursing resource allocation in hospitals.