LAUSR

Background: Intensive care outreach nurses (ICONs) can reduce deterioration and death of patients in hospitals. Purpose: Evaluate outcomes associated with implementation of the ICON role across 4 UAE hospitals. Methods: Trend analyses and χ2 tests were used to measure changes before ICON program, during ICON year 1, ICON year 2, when the service coverage extended 24/7, and until the end of 2019. Results: From year 1 to year 2, failures to escalate decreased from a rate of 14.8 to 5.6 episodes per 1000 admissions for all sites combined (P < .001). The cardiac arrest rate went from 4.04 to 1.42 per 1000 admissions in year 2 and continued downward to 0.72 per 1000 (P < .001). Transfer from ward or readmission to intensive care unit/high dependency unit varied by site, although there was a statistically significant trend for all hospitals combined. Conclusion: The ICON role contributed to fewer failure to escalate incidents and lower cardiac arrest rates.