Abstract P-039: DEFINING LONG-STAY PATIENTS IN THE PEDIATRIC INTENSIVE CARE UNIT: A SURVEY OF MEDICAL DIRECTORS, NURSE MANAGERS AND HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATORS

Abstract

Aims & Objectives: Long-stay patients (LSPs) account for ~8% of admissions to pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) and use up to 50% of hospital resources, but there is no consensus definition for LSPs. Therefore, we surveyed key PICU stakeholders to assess their perspectives regarding the importance of defining LSPs, the components the definition should include, the preferred method for deriving the definition, and the definitions’ characteristics. Methods We identified a purposive sample of one medical director, nurse manager and hospital administrator in each of 14 tertiary care academic PICUs across Canada. An internet-based survey was sent to 40 of 42 eligible participants in February and March of 2017. Results The participant flow diagram is shown in Figure 1. We had a response rate of 70% (28/40). 75% (21/28) of respondents stated it was important to define LSPs. Respondents thought such a definition was important to determine: PICU resource needs (86%, 18/21), alternative models of care (86%, 18/21), and current resource utilization (76%, 16/21) (Table 1). Respondents valued a definition that was consistent, and incorporated a percentile cut-off. 86% of respondents (24/28) felt the definition of LSPs should include factors other than PICU length of stay (Table 2).Conclusions PICU stakeholders believed defining LSPs is important. They indicated that this definition should be consistent, include a percentile cut-off for length of stay, and incorporate patient and unit-based factors along with PICU length of stay. Our results provide a basis for developing a consensus definition for LSPs in the PICU.