Article selection

http://www.amjmed.com/article/S0002-9343(17)30221-8/fulltext

Our group chose the journal article which discusses ways to decrease unnecessary laboratory testing in a Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU). There are several reasons why this is a cause for concerns for both the hospital and the patient. It discusses how laboratory testing is usually excessive and unnecessary causing patient discomfort, higher risk for infection, and creating unnecessary costs to the patient, hospital or provider. It is also time that could be used to treat other patients or complete other tasks, which would in return save the hospital money. There may also be a patient with a higher need of care that is being neglected because of unnecessary testing being done.

The project was conducted in a 12-bed closed Medical Intensive Care Unit in a community, medical school-affiliated hospital, with a residency and fellowship teaching program. The MICU team is composed of a pulmonary critical care attending and fellow, 4 residents, 4 interns, nurses and respiratory therapists. Our group chose this article because we believe it is an issue that relates to Intensive Care Units in our community as well. It is a debate that has come up time and time again, an issue that if handled in the wrong way could potentially results in several undiagnosed diseases and deaths of patients. With all the cancer and diseases we have in not only our community but our world, it is challenging to decide whether to ignore initial or hypothetically smaller symptoms of patients because the chance of a severe condition is not probable based on visible symptoms.