It is estimated that up to 50 percent of ICU survivors are at risk for long-term physical, cognitive, and/or behavioral health issues after ICU and hospital discharge.1-5 This constellation of difficulties is called post-intensive care syndrome (PICS). In addition to the direct impact on ICU survivors, PICS has a financial and operational impact on health care delivery systems6-8 as well as a significant and often negative impact on the caregivers and families of ICU survivors.9-11
In recognition of PICS and its effects on a substantial portion of ICU survivors, their families and the health care systems that care for them, post-ICU survivor clinics have come into existence in many countries. These clinics seek to study the needs and outcomes of ICU survivors, with the dual goals of improving the long-term outcomes of ICU survivors while achieving these improved outcomes in an...