Project 461622

Intensive Care Units (ICU) are the places in hospital where the sickest patients are treated. Complications of treatment in ICU are common. We found one in four patients in Canadian ICUs have a treatment-related complication - an adverse event. Examples include: new infections, medical devices 'falling out' and skin breakdown. Each year tens of millions of dollars are spent to improve patient safety by reducing adverse events. Our recent review suggests that the way ICUs are designed effects how care is provided to patients and contributes to adverse events. Building an ICU costs tens of millions of dollars, and happens every 20-40 years. It seems sensible that ICU design should be focussed on helping ICU professionals provide safe, high-quality care minimizing complications and providing the best possible experience for family members when visiting their loved one. In this project we want to find out HOW ICU design affects patient safety - we will measure adverse events. We will also ask ICU professionals and patient's loved ones about their experiences working in and visiting these 200 bedspaces in ICU's across Canada. Common sense tells us things like how big patient rooms are, how far rooms are apart, how close key equipment is, the quality of amenities for visitors, and how well patients and patient-monitors can be seen from nursing stations are important. Common sense also suggests that ICU professionals are resourceful and adapt to overcome challenges - including those related to ICU design. Knowing what happens in the real-world is important: bedspace types linked to the most adverse events can receive extra attention to reduce risk to patients. Architects can avoid unfavourable features as they design new ICUs. Bedspace types linked to the least adverse events and the most favourable visitor experiences can be built into future renovations and new designs - to improve the outcomes of critically ill patients across Canada and around the world.