Project 465810

In Canada's healthcare system, the transfer of critically ill patients from the intensive care unit (ICU) to another part of the hospital or back home is among the most challenging, high risk, and inefficient processes. Moving to another part of the hospital can be confusing and stressful for patients and their family caregivers because it will have new doctors and nurses and it will look and work differently than the ICU. Many patients are often readmitted to the ICU and exposed to adverse events and gaps in medical care. Similarly, healthcare providers are challenged with limited collaboration across different care units and breakdowns in communication related to the transfer of information. We aim to build a customizable tool for use by healthcare providers, patients, and family caregivers to optimize the experiences and outcomes after transfer of patients from the ICU. The proposed work will be carried out within the Alberta Health Services Critical Care Strategic Clinical Network and in collaboration with healthcare providers, patients and family partners, decision-makers, and researchers. We will also assess the feasibility of implementing the tool and measure its effect on adverse events, ICU readmissions, and costs after patients are transferred from ICUs in Alberta. Once built, the tool will help patients have better recoveries from their illness, and improve communication between patients, families, and healthcare providers. These positive impacts will help enhance the value and sustainability of critical care in Alberta's healthcare system by ensuring care is integrated and coordinated during the ICU patient's journey.