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expenses).
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Dedicated team members are more motivated to perform well, because they are directly responsible.
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Special, expert consultation (e.g. clinical pharmacologists or bacteriologists) is more effective.
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Standardised, optimised procedures and protocols can be defined and be better fulfilled by a closed team:
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Standardised weaning strategies or protocols: Mechanical ventilation in ICM has become increasingly sophisticated (e.g. protective lung
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ventilation). Errors in ventilation strategy are expensive (e.g. barotrauma, ventilator-induced lung injury). Weaning protocols may shorten
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length of stay in ICU.
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Treatment protocols, e.g. for sedation: Sedation is expensive and requires continuous observation and experienced personnel. Errors in
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sedation are even more expensive (they increase the length of stay)!
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Standardised, optimised procedures for antibiotics: Infections are expensive and increase the length of stay. Rational antibiotic strategies
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can be carried out more effectively.
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Hygiene measures can be better controlled in a closed team (protocol implementation). Direct supervision is possible.
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Standardised protocols for managing nutrition can be more cost-effective.
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Complications of invasive monitoring can be reduced by a dedicated ICU team: Experience in inserting, controlling, and maintaining invasive
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catheters is built up. Insertion techniques (e.g. for pulmonary artery catheters) can be standardised. Experience is gained in using the results
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for therapeutic decisions and to identify errors and artefacts.
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Uniform admission and discharge policies: The members of the ICU team are more familiar with the patient's history and actual situation (e.g.
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hidden complications, physiological stability, stress reaction).
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