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The cost of an intensive care unit: A prospective study

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Abstract

The cost of intensive care for patients admitted to the ICU were estimated. Patients suffering from severe combined acute respiratory and renal failure who required mechanical ventilation and renal replacement therapy (SCARRF-D) cost per day significantly more than non-renal patients (£ 938 compared to £ 653 per patient respectively) and their average length of stay in hospital is nearly 4 times as long (28.8 compared to 7.6 days respectively). Approximately 44% of the total cost was staff related (28% for the provision of nurses and 16% for the rest). Retrieving information related to cost was difficult, time consuming and labour intensive.

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Gilbertson, A.A., Smith, J.M. & Mostafa, S.M. The cost of an intensive care unit: A prospective study. Intensive Care Med 17, 204–208 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01709878

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01709878

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