The value of a progressive care environment for neurosurgical patients.

Intensive care is expensive and stressful for patients and families. With rising healthcare costs, hospitals need other options. This retrospective, descriptive study explored the efficacy of using a progressive care environment to manage stable, complex patients out of the intensive care unit. Data were collected on 114 neurosurgical patients using specific inclusion and exclusion criteria before and after implementation of progressive care beds within a standard medical-surgical unit. Patients in the "after" group had a statistically significant decrease in the number of intensive care unit days and overall hospital length of stay. The results suggest that it is possible for positive patient outcomes using this model if these patients are carefully selected, nurses are appropriately educated, and a collaborative approach is used.