Dr. Michele Balas, Associate Dean of Research and Dorothy Hodges Olson Distinguished Professor at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) College of Nursing, will present groundbreaking research on intensive care unit practices at an upcoming National Institutes of Health event. The presentation, scheduled for February 28, 2025, is part of the NIH's prestigious Pragmatic Trials Collaboratory Grand Rounds.
Innovative Implementation Strategies in Critical Care
The presentation, titled "Behavioral Economic and Staffing Strategies to Increase Adoption of the ABCDEF Bundle in the Intensive Care Unit (BEST ICU): Protocol, Challenges, and Major Updates," represents a significant milestone for UNMC. As the institution's first multisite PCORnet® Study, this research tackles the crucial challenge of implementing evidence-based practices in intensive care settings.
"The ABCDEF Bundle is considered the standard of care and should be given to every single patient, every single day in the ICU whether or not they are on the ventilator," Dr. Balas emphasized in a previous statement. This comprehensive care approach has shown proven benefits, yet remains underutilized in clinical practice.
Bridging the Implementation Gap
The BEST ICU study specifically examines how behavioral economics and staffing strategies can enhance the adoption of the ABCDEF Bundle in intensive care settings. This pragmatic clinical trial addresses questions of major public health importance while providing proof of concept for innovative research designs in implementation science.
The research is particularly significant as it focuses on accelerating the translation of evidence-based practices into routine clinical care. By studying implementation strategies, Dr. Balas and her team aim to identify effective methods for overcoming barriers to adoption of proven interventions in critical care medicine.
Impact on Critical Care Practice
This study represents a crucial step forward in improving ICU care delivery. By focusing on implementation strategies, the research addresses one of healthcare's most persistent challenges: the gap between known best practices and their consistent application in clinical settings.
The findings from this study could potentially transform how hospitals approach the implementation of evidence-based protocols in intensive care units, ultimately leading to improved patient outcomes and standardized high-quality care across ICU settings.
