Critically ill patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) have complex sets of medical issues involving multiple organ systems. A comprehensive understanding of cardiac, pulmonary, and hematologic pathophysiology is required to skillfully manage these issues. Therefore, physicians trained and experienced in critical care are the obvious choice to assess, diagnose, and treat these patients.

The field of critical care has changed markedly in recent years to accommodate a growing population of chronically critically ill patients. Although the federal government has played a large role in regulating best practices by physicians, other third parties have entered the arena. Perhaps the most influential of these has been The Leapfrog Group, a consortium representing 130 employers and 65 Fortune 500 companies that purchase health care for their employees. This group has proposed specific regulatory guidelines for intensive care units (ICUs) that resulted in significant cost containment and improved quality of care.

The available data suggests that mortality is reduced when intensivists are involved in patient management. The nationally renowned Leapfrog initiative outlined 3 ways intensive care units (ICUs):

1. Intensive care units (ICUs) should be staffed by Board-certified intensivists, to coordinate and manage care of patients.
2. Intensivists should staff ICUs during daytime hours, a minimum of 8 hours, 7 days per week.
3. Intensivists should respond to more than 95% of calls for assistance within 5 minutes.

Procare Hospitalists have designed its critical care division according to the Leapfrog guidelines that have led to overall economic benefits and improved patient outcomes, including shorter length of stay and lower rates of complications and mortality.

Procare’s expertise and focus on professional and leadership development of critical care staff and clinicians has distinguished our team as the most respected leaders of critical care medicine in the nation.