Continuous quality improvement in the ICU: general guidelines

Authors :: Thijs, L.G.
Baltopoulos, G.
Bion, J.K.
Carlet, J.
Eklund, J.
Ferdinande, P.
Frutiger, A.
Iapichino, G.
Moreno, R.P.J.
Pimentel, J.M.
Planas, M.
Ramsay, G.
VU University medical center
Source :: Intensive Care Medicine, 23, 125-127. Springer Verlag, Thijs, L G, Baltopoulos, G, Bion, J K, Carlet, J, Eklund, J, Ferdinande, P, Frutiger, A, Iapichino, G, Moreno, R P J, Pimentel, J M, Planas, M & Ramsay, G 1997, ' Continuous quality improvement in the ICU: general guidelines ', Intensive Care Medicine, vol. 23, pp. 125-127 . https://doi.org/10.1007/s001340050304
Publication Year :: 1997
Publisher :: Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 1997.
Abstract: Patient outcome, not limited to survival but also related to residual disability and quality of life, as well as the effectiveness of treatment and efficiency of intensive care (relating outcome to resource use) have become major issues. The quality of care provided has a significant impact on these variables and continuous improvement of the quality of intensive care is the challenge for the years to come. Quality may be viewed and defined in many different ways. In the following some essential elements of ICU performance will be identified which may be used to develop tools which can help us to improve the quality of ICU practice.