Intermountain will implement a critical care initiative beginning September 1 to improve outcomes for patients on ventilators. The initiative focuses on reliably performing daily spontaneous awakening trials (SAT) and spontaneous breathing trials (SBT). The definitions and expectations regarding SAT/SBT are being clarified for bedside staff. Leaders will use iCentra to monitor how caregivers are using the guidelines and local leaders will support further adoption. Studies show implementation of these standards greatly reduces ventilated days, ventilator-associated pneumonia, lung and vocal cord damage, patient length of stay, ICU delirium, and improves survival rates.
This work is also a component of a 2021 National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded research study known as TEACH (telehealth-enabled, real-time audit and feedback for clinician adherence). The intent is to study the best ways to implement recognized standards of care to determine when ICU patients on mechanical ventilators can safely resume breathing on their own.
Focused training on this standardized best practice will be available in the Canyons and Desert regions to physicians, APPs, intensive care nurses, and respiratory therapists throughout August 2022.
If you have questions, email Carrie.Winberg@imail.org or Christopher.Jones2@imail.org.