Challenges in today's critical care environments

Today, hospitals are faced with increasing complexity in patient care, higher demands for caregiver flexibility, more competition for patients, and increased cost pressure. This is due to various factors, including:

• Aging population afflicted with a growing number of chronic illnesses
• Rising patient population combined with caregiver shortages
• Nosocomial infections – not only a major cause of death and higher morbidity, but also responsible for an increased length of stay (LOS). This results in higher costs and reduced ICU bed availability due to an increased LOS¹
• Better informed patients, who play a more active role in their own healthcare and expect the most advanced care possible^{2, 3}
• Competition among hospitals, both nationally and internationally. This has caused a growth in medical tourism worldwide due to long waiting periods for operations, lack of state-of-the-art medical facilities, and high medical costs in some countries⁴
• Hospital budget constraints

Mastering these challenges requires greater efficiency and productivity from every member of the Critical Care team. This is why Dräger offers a different approach to Critical Care. We bring decision-relevant information, ventilation therapy and ergonomics together to advance the quality of care, support patient and caregiver safety and streamline workflows. The result? A significant impact on patient care.