Prince Charles Hospital to reduce trauma for ICU patients with world-first pilot program

A Brisbane hospital patient has revealed what he faced following a double lung transplant – and why it could be better in the future. READ THE FULL REPORT

The Prince Charles Hospital’s redesigned ICU aids patient recovery. Picture: Steve Pohlner

A Queensland hospital has redesigned its intensive care unit in a world-first pilot to help reduce patient trauma and boost recovery.

ICU stays can be noisy, disruptive and very clinical, leading to poor-quality sleep and instances of delirium and post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Prince Charles Hospital in Brisbane launches the ICU of the Future project on Wednesday with a two-bed trial in which patients will benefit from reduced noise levels, a more natural light cycle to give a clearer sense of time and enhance circadian rhythm, and increased tech connectivity with families.

The trial, which was created after five years of research and discussions with patients, is the work of Metro North Health, The Critical Care Research Group, The Common Good, Queensland Technology Future Fund, Queensland Health and Queensland Motor Vehicle Accident Insurance Commission.

The Prince Charles Hospital executive director Tami Photinos said the project has been made possible by extensive fundraising by The Common Good, supported by Queensland Government funding.

“In the average ICU, one patient will have an alarm going off every 80 seconds, at its lowest sound level of 60 decibels, which is the equivalent of a busy freeway – on average they’ll only get about three hours of sleep a night,” Ms Photinos said.

The Prince Charles Hospital’s redesigned ICU aids patient recovery. Picture: Steve Pohlner

“By simply reconfiguring the space to reduce alarm noise and move alarm location, and implement white noise technology, soundproofing and a personalised speaker system next to the patient’s head, we can improve this sound quality and also create a more relaxing environment.”

Jay Lavana, director of ICU at the hospital, said that staff are well trained to manage and work in the busy environment but are focused on reducing anxiety and delirium for patients.

“Even by just configuring the alarm sounds so they are not next to the patient’s head and are now transmitted to the foot end of the patient and closer to the nurses — every little bit will help,” the doctor said.

Elliot Cox, 25, was a patient at the hospital’s ICU following a double lung transplant.

“It’s very clinical and you feel a bit like you’re in a lab – you know you’re among amazing professionals but there are so many sounds and you have no idea what is happening in the world outside,” he said.

“You hear all these noises beeping but you don’t know if they are coming from your bed or from someone else. I also couldn’t speak as I had a breathing device in and I would hallucinate a lot – I’m told it is very common to have these kinds of scary dreams.

“It’s great to see we can actually change the environment to help the patient,” he said.

ICU of the future project manager Oystein Tronstad (left) with former patient Elliott Cox and The Prince Charles Hospital director of adult intensive care services Dr Jayshree Lavana in the redesigned ICU. Picture: Steve Pohlner