Interviews with primary care physicians identify unmet transition needs after ICU

Abstract

Aim

We sought to explore unmet needs in transitions of care for critical illness survivors that concern primary care physicians.

Findings

Semi-structured interviews with primary care physicians identified three categories of concerns about unmet transition needs after patients’ ICU stays: patients’ understanding of their ICU stay and potential complications, treatments or support needs not covered by insurance, and starting and maintaining needed rehabilitation and assistance across transitions of care.

Conclusion

Given current constraints of access to coordinated post-ICU care, efforts to identify and address the post-hospitalization needs of critical illness survivors may be improved through coordinated work across the health system.