LAUSR

To the Editor: We read two articles, Kreeftenberg et al (1) and Kleinpell et al (2), published in recent issues of Critical Care Medicine, with great interest. These publications highlight current knowledge of the value added by including advanced practice providers in acute and critical care delivery teams. These hospital-based advanced practice provider studies contribute to a considerable body of literature that demonstrates the safety, quality, and cost-effectiveness of advanced practice provider care (3). Although these publications summarize the best available data on advanced practice provider care in acute care settings, the articles included in the reviews have limitations. The biggest limitation being that a majority of the studies included in these reviews were conducted in single healthcare systems chemotherapy versus complications of medical devices, respectively (Table 1). Recurrent sepsis was a top readmission diagnosis among both children with and without malignancy. Finally, we agree with the authors that development and implementation of risk prediction tools are important next steps for preventing readmissions and the associated sequelae of rehospitalization. Drs. Carlton and Prescott received support for article research from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Dr. Prescott’s institution received funding from the NIH/National Institute of General Medical Sciences. This manuscript does not represent the views of the Department of Veterans Affairs or the U.S. government. This material is the result of work supported with resources and use of facilities at the Ann Arbor VA Medical Center.