Background: Survivors of critical illness, such as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) requiring invasive mechanical ventilatory support in an intensive care unit (ICU), commonly experience prolonged morbidity in multiple health domains: psychological distress, functional debility, cognitive impairment, and poorer quality of life. This resulting morbidity is now recognized broadly as post-intensive care syndrome (PICS). COVID-19 ICU survivors are at [...]

Background: Delirium is associated with increased duration of mechanical ventilation, longer intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay, increased mortality and cognitive impairment after discharge. Quetiapine has been associated with faster resolution but long-term use is associated with adverse effects. Patients are often discharged from the ICU and subsequently from the hospital on quetiapine without [...]

Background: The underlying burden of medical co-morbidity is often the main driver of ICU transfer of patients initially admitted to the medical wards (1). The role of non-patient related factors is unclear, as are the mortality and economic data associated with ICU transfer from the medical ward. The purpose of this analysis was to identify [...]

Background: Central venous lines (CVL), including temporary dialysis catheters, are often required in the inpatient setting. While CVLs are frequently placed in radiology suites or intensive care units (ICU), many institutions allow placement on medical-surgical wards by Hospitalist Bedside Procedure Services (BPS). The BPS at our institution began to perform CVL placement at the patient [...]

Background: Ventricular tachycardia (VT) is the most common cause of wide complex tachycardia and a potentially fatal cardiac rhythm disorder. Ventricular arrhythmias, including VT, cause approximately 25% of sudden cardiac deaths. Some studies have proposed a dose-response relationship between VT burden and risk of mortality; however, these studies may have been limited by the inclusion [...]

Background: High flow nasal cannula (HFNC) is a non-invasive oxygen delivery system commonly used in emergency rooms, pediatric intensive care units (PICU), and pediatric wards for respiratory illnesses. Previously, HFNC was strictly managed in the ICU, but this is becoming less common as more pediatric wards have initiated its use. Questions have arisen regarding the [...]

Background:  Healthcare delivery has become more expensive, with a portion of the elevated cost due to increased utilization of laboratory studies. The Choosing Wisely campaign is an initiative of the American Board of Internal Medicine Foundation focused on preventing wasteful care. Accordingly, the Critical Care Societies Collaborative developed an evidence-based list describing overutilization practices.  This [...]

Background: The diagnostic yield and therapeutic consequences of daily routine chest x-rays are very low. Several studies show discontinuation of daily routine chest x-rays does not affect ICU length of stay, readmission rate, or hospital mortality.We hereby present results of an educational intervention at a tertiary care university medical center to avoid daily routine chest [...]

Background: In March 2020, with a precipitous surge of cases within a three-week period, the hospital infrastructure crumbled–COVID-19 impacted New York with unparalleled intensity. The unrelenting volume of patients coupled with the prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) stays of COVID patients led to a rapid expansion from two medical ICUs at our two academic centers [...]