Growth in adult prolonged acute mechanical ventilation: Implications for healthcare delivery*

Abstract

Patients undergoing PAMV are a large and resource-intensive population whose increase outpaces growth in the general U.S. population and in overall hospital volume. Policy makers must factor this projected rapid growth in frequency of PAMV into future resource and work force planning. Given the resource-intensive nature of these patients, strategies need to be developed to optimize their care and to increase efficiency of healthcare delivery to this large and growing population.