Jacobi Medical Center (Bronx, NY) is a large teaching hospital that established a policy of admitting critically ill patients to the coronary care unit when no bed is available in the medical ICU. In this study of about 1100 patients over a four-year period, no higher mortality or longer length of stay was found. The authors conclude that it is a safe practice.
Source: Sidlow, R., and, Aggarwal, V. “The MICU is full”: one hospital’s experience with an overflow triage policy. The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety;37(10):456-460, Oct. 2011. Click here for more information: http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/jcaho/jcjqs/latest Posted by AHA Resource Center, (312) 422-2050, rc@aha.org
Filed under: Academic medical centers, Best practices, Posted by Kim Garber, Special care units | Tagged: Coronary care units, Critical care units, Hospital overflow policies, Hospital patient throughput, Special care units |
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