Passport to Successful ICU Discharge

This book provides a holistic and multi professional approach to maximising the chances of a successful recovery for the ICU patient surviving a period of critical illness. An admission to ICU with a critical illness has a well-recognised physical, psychological and social impact all on the individual and their loved ones of which need to remain in sharp focus from admission.  Successful discharge from ICU requires significant attention to detail on all aspects of care concurrently to ensure a return to the best quality of life achievable. Early focus on structured rehabilitation and avoidance /prevention of ICU related complications are identified as paramount to improve both short and long term outcomes. This attention to detail needs to continue through the transition to the ward and planning discharge home. 'Passport to a successful ICU discharge' explores key areas to look forward to a successful recovery beginning with admission through to discharge in a holistic way. A Passport to discharge covers some key aspects to be achieved to the highest standards to create the best environment for success. A focus on promoting the best quality of life for the individual by careful attention to detail to benchmark every stage of their ICU journey which begins with admission. Chapters written by multidisciplinary ICU team members provide expert guidance and an evidence based approach to improve outcomes and return patients to their families.

Carole Boulanger is a Consultant Nurse and Advanced Critical Care Practitioner at the Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Foundation Trust UK.  She is the recent Chair of the Nursing & AHP Committee for ESICM leading on developments of nursing and AHP activity for the society. This includes not only educational provision but also ensuring that nursing and AHP contributions continue to expand as part of the fabric of the society as this reflects the way we deliver care to our patients.  Her primary focus is on high quality care delivery across occupational boundaries and advanced clinical practice in the Critical Care setting.

Dr David McWilliams is a Consultant Physiotherapist within critical care at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham which has the largest single location critical care unit in Europe. He is the chair of the physiotherapy working group for the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine (ESICM). David was a member of the guideline development group for the NICE guideline 'Critical Illness rehabilitation' and subsequent quality standard on the same topic. He has extensive experience of research into both early and post ICU rehabilitation, with a number of publications in this area and regularly presents both nationally and internationally on the subject.