A case study in interdisciplinary care of the critically ill

The special care unit (SCU) of University Hospitals of Cleveland was established in 1989 specifically for case management of critically ill patients who require long-term habitation in an intensive care setting, usually because of ventilator dependency. This case study exemplifies the interdisciplinary involvement in caring for a patient with complications who was a long-term, critically ill resident of the unit. The discussion shows the importance of the use of the nurse case manager coordinator and an interdisciplinary approach to patient care for successful outcomes in the chronically critically ill population.