A survey of Canadian critical care staffing to inform current policy and future need

Intensive care units (ICUs) are where the sickest patients in the hospital receive their care. The physical beds and equipment are important to allow for safe care. However, having the right staff (e.g. doctors and nurses, pharmacists, physical therapists) is just as important to ensure patients do well in the ICU. We know that having doctors and nurses specifically trained in critical care is best, but we know very little beyond that. Right now we don't know how many doctors, nurses, and other members of the care team are routinely taking care of patients in ICUs, or how that might have changed from before COVID-19. We don't know how many patients each doctor or nurse is usually caring for during the day, and how many other team members, such as physical therapists and pharmacists are employed in each ICU. The goal of this grant is to identify exactly what is known already, and then to survey each ICU across Canada to understand the current staffing of their ICUs. This basic information is essential to then create a document that can provide guidance to all the hospitals and ICUs across the country regarding staffing for ICUs.