Chaos Theory: Optimizing Critical Illness Outcomes through the Family Experience A Theoretical Review

An estimated six to eight million patients are admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) in the United States every year [1, 2]. It is possible that new and innovative medical therapies have provided patients with treatment options that enhance survival of a critical illness and allow them go home with more medical support than previously available in earlier years. This may explain why there are now millions of ICU survivors are a result of declining mortality rates (8-19%) even though there are increased ICU admissions [3, 4]. This also indicates a change in direction of the attitudes and beliefs of the family unit today and their desire for the family member to return home after critical illness instead of moving to a tertiary facility for care. However, survivorship is not without its negative consequences especially financially. In 2005, the cost of critical illness in the ICU was estimated at $81.7 billion [5]. This in combination with frequent re-admission rates and significantly higher utilization of post ICU healthcare resources has contributed to a significant financial burden for ICU survivors and their families [2,6].