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Integrating Subspecialty Expertise in the Intensive Care Unit

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The Organization of Critical Care

Part of the book series: Respiratory Medicine ((RM,volume 18))

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Abstract

The integration of subspecialty expertise in the management of critically ill patients has become an area of both great interest and controversy. The past several decades have seen the emergence and rapid implementation of such subspecialty intensive care settings as the cardiac intensive care unit (ICU) and the neuroscience ICU. By pooling individuals with similar disease processes, and capitalizing on the expertise of specially trained nurses and physicians, many believe these units can provide more efficient and effective critical care delivery. Despite limited evidence to either support or refute their significance, these ICUs have become more commonplace, and their proliferation has brought to light important questions regarding optimal structure, staffing, and training. At the same time, the role of subspecialty consultants for an increasingly complex critical care population remains an important and evolving process.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

    Nicole Tran

  2. Divisions of Cardiology and Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

    Jason N. Katz

  3. UNC Center for Heart and Vascular Care, 160 Dental Circle, CB# 7075, Burnett-Womack Building, 6th Floor, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7075, USA

    Jason N. Katz

Authors
  1. Nicole Tran
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  2. Jason N. Katz
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Correspondence to Jason N. Katz .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Critical Care Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    Damon C. Scales

  2. Division of Critical Care Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

    Gordon D. Rubenfeld

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Tran, N., Katz, J.N. (2014). Integrating Subspecialty Expertise in the Intensive Care Unit. In: Scales, D., Rubenfeld, G. (eds) The Organization of Critical Care. Respiratory Medicine, vol 18. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0811-0_6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-0811-0_6

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-0810-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-0811-0

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