Evolution and Validation 0f Practice Standards, Training, and Professional Development
personnel according to the level of care being provided. ICUs were defined as levels I, II, and III.
Levels of ICU services
Level I
Comprehensive critical care for a wide variety of patient populations with a high level of
specialization
ii.
Requires broad range of comprehensive support, including pharmacy services, respiratory
therapy, clinical nutrition, pastoral care, and social services
iii.
Often fulfills an academic mission
Level II
Comprehensive critical care but may not provide care for certain patient populations
ii.
Must have transfer protocols in place for patients with special needs
iii.
Comprehensive support services must be available.
iv.
May or may not have an academic mission
Level III
Provides stabilization, but has limited ability to provide comprehensive critical care
ii.
Must have transfer protocols in place for patients requiring level I and II critical care services
iii.
Support services are often limited in scope.
2000;28:3746-50)
Emphasizes the importance of clinical pharmacists as required members of the patient care team
Qualifications and competence of the critical care pharmacist in ICU therapeutics are defined as
essential. Acknowledges several pathways, including advanced degrees, residency, fellowship, and
other specialized practice experiences.
| d. | ICUs with an academic mission should provide protected time for pharmacist participation in |
|---|
scholarly activities and appropriate knowledge and skills to provide education to critical care nurses,
physician trainees, and physicians.
Nonacademic centers should provide time for maintenance of competence and maintain current
certification.
SCCM and ACCP have long promoted the team-based care model for critical care as a standard,
principles and values of highly functioning interprofessional health care teams (see https://nam.edu/wp-
content/uploads/2015/06/VSRT-Team-Based-Care-Principles-Values.pdf).
Definition of team-based care: Team-based health care is the provision of health services to
individuals, families, and/or their communities by at least two health providers who work
collaboratively with patients and their caregivers—to the extent preferred by each patient—to
accomplish shared goals within and across settings to achieve coordinated, high-quality care.
Five personal values of effective members of high-functioning teams:
Honesty: Includes effective, transparent communication. Essential to building mutual trust.
ii.
Discipline: Each team member carries out roles and responsibilities in a highly disciplined
approach, even when inconvenient or difficult.
iii.
Creativity: Maintains excitement around addressing new and difficult challenges. Seeing
opportunity in both successes and failures