[Capacity in Danish intensive care units. A national survey of capacity, cancellations and transfers of critically ill patients]

Abstract

Introduction: A shortage of intensive care beds and fully-booked intensive care units has a range of undesirable consequences for patients and personnel, eg. transfer to other intensive care units, cancellation of operations, tighter visitation criteria and an increase in the work-load. The problem is illustrated in a national survey.

Materials and methods: The survey was undertaken in 3 parts and comprised all 50 adult intensive care units in Denmark. Part 1 was a questionnaire encompassing demographic data, the number of open intensive care beds and how often under or over capacity was experienced in the department. Parts 2 and 3 consisted of a daily registry of the capacity and occupancy rate in the intensive care departments for two weeks along with a contemporary registry of the number of admittances, transfers and cancellations of operations.

Results: In Denmark only 2% of all somatic beds are intensive care beds. Under capacity, defined as a 100% occupancy rate, was experienced weekly or monthly in 80% of all intensive care units in Denmark. Occupancy rate was high, a medium of 78%, highest in level III intensive care units with an 88% occupancy rate. The numbers for transfers were equivalent to 800-1000 patient transfers per year. The number of cancelled operations was equivalent to 2000 per year.

Conclusion: This survey documents that there is a problem with the capacity in Danish intensive care units. Establishing more intensive care beds in selected departments, ensuring personnel for the beds already established and establishing intermediate care beds could relieve the shortage of beds.