Journal of critical care
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Journal of critical care · Sep 2004
ReviewInterventions to reduce mortality among patients treated in intensive care units.
Using sensitivity analysis to estimate the impact, in terms of patient lives, of the failure to use proven therapies known to reduce mortality in critically ill intensive care unit patients. ⋯ Mistakes of omission are common in the critical care setting and lead to significant preventable mortality. There is a significant gap between the discovery of effective interventions and their use in clinical practice. By viewing the delivery of healthcare as a science and increasing funding for health services research, we may be able to increase the use of effective therapies and, as a result, reduce patient mortality.