Organisation and resource management in the intensive care unit: A critical review

Abstract

Background/Aim: Patients are admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) for critical care not available to patients in the general wards, with the potential for reversible organ failure as a key admission criterion. The objective of this integrative review was to examine and discuss the literature pertaining to the environment of the ICU, including unit organisation, staffing and equipment, that underpins the provision of ICU services. This review also aimed to discuss current perspectives on ICU resources and utilisation. Methods: To prepare this integrated literature review, computer-assisted searches were conducted using the PubMed/Medline, CINAHL and EMBASE databases. An extensive search o..