(106) Care Beyond the ICU: The Effect of a Multidisciplinary Post-ICU Clinic on the Bedside Care Team

Introduction: ICU survivors often suffer persistent physical, mental, and/or cognitive impairments following discharge. This is called Post Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS). The Successful Post ICU Recovery Inter-professional Team (SPIRIT) clinic is a multidisciplinary team including a Pulmonary/Critical Care physician, nurse practitioner, physical and occupational therapist, pharmacist, and social worker. There is limited data examining the effects of PICS programs on the bedside care team. It was hypothesized that receiving monthly SPIRIT patient updates would have a positive effect on the healthcare team’s morale, as well as improve their perceived impact on patient outcomes.

Methods: An anonymous qualitative survey was distributed through Redcap to healthcare workers in the ICU. Questions evaluated how receiving monthly SPIRIT patient updates effected their well-being.

Results: Of the 56 surveyors, 36% were providers, 32% were nurses, 20% were respiratory therapists, 7% were therapists (occupational/physical/speech), and 5% were other. 44 of the surveyors had worked in the ICU prior to the implementation of SPIRIT clinic and all received monthly SPIRIT updates.
Prior to SPIRIT clinic, only 13% reported that work had a positive impact on their personal life, doubling to 27% after receiving SPIRIT updates. Prior to SPIRIT clinic, 63% reported experiencing burnout >50% of the time, decreasing to 47% after. Prior to SPIRIT clinic, 16% reported caring for patients impersonally >50% of the time. After SPIRIT clinic, this decreased to zero. Before SPIRIT clinic, 12% believed they always had a positive impact on patients; this result doubled after receiving SPIRIT updates. Receiving SPIRIT clinic updates was rewarding to 95% of surveyors

Conclusions: Receiving monthly SPIRIT updates improved the bedside care team’s well-being, as well as their perceived impact on patient outcomes.