The Future of Critical Care: Optimizing Technologies and a Learning Healthcare System to Potentiate a More Humanistic Approach to Critical Care

Abstract

While technological innovations are the invariable crux of speculation about the future of critical care, they cannot replace the clinician at the bedside. This article summarizes the work of the Society of Critical Care Medicine–appointed multiprofessional task for the Future of Critical Care. The Task Force notes that critical care practice will be transformed by novel technologies, integration of artificial intelligence decision support algorithms, and advances in seamless data operationalization across diverse healthcare systems and geographic regions and within federated datasets. Yet, new technologies will be relevant and meaningful only if they improve the very human endeavor of caring for someone who is critically ill.

More isn’t always better

“…In this study, we sought to better understand clinicians’ experiences with and perceptions of technology in ICUs. New technologies are essential to ICUs’ ability to manage severe illness, injuries, and complications and indeed were one rationale for the early use of ICUs (Meissen et al, 2022). New technologies have clearly improved care and saved lives (Weil & Tang, 2011).…”

“…Care in modern ICUs now combines multidisciplinary expertise and a complex array of equipment and technology (Marshall et al, 2017). These technologies, which on average generate over 1,000 data points daily per ICU patient (Manor-Shulman et al, 2008; Meissen et al, 2022), have clearly advanced clinicians’ ability to care for patients by enabling precise monitoring for early complication detection, facilitating efficient treatment strategies, and providing advanced life support systems and real-time data analysis (Weil & Tang, 2011).…”

ICU without borders

“…Wearable technologies and home-based rehabilitation programs have been shown to better identify and also ameliorate symptoms of post-intensive care syndrome. [ 11 , 12 ] Finally, post-ICU follow-up clinics can offer care for family members who may be at risk of physical exhaustion, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression. [ 13 ]…”

“…Technologies are available to better track and pass on patients’ preferences, such as advance directives and organ donation wishes. [ 11 ] It is very likely that future critical care will potentially include the patient’s home and field hospitals, similar to critical care telemedicine programs that support remote or low-resource environments with virtual input from experts around the world. [ 11 ]…”

“…[ 11 ] It is very likely that future critical care will potentially include the patient’s home and field hospitals, similar to critical care telemedicine programs that support remote or low-resource environments with virtual input from experts around the world. [ 11 ]…”